Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Several incidents that took place in various parts of the Kingdom during celebrations over the past one week raised a furor in society, Al-Madina newspaper reported.

A bride marched down on Jeddah Corniche with her husband wearing her wedding dress without an abaya. A woman went up and danced in front of the crowd in Abha on Al-Fan Street. A similar incident took place in Jazan Cultural Village.

Many people were outraged by the unseemly acts while others reacted with excitement.

Commenting on the incidents, legal experts said people involved face imprisonment, lashings and even deportation if they were foreigners.

Head of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage in Jazan Rustum Al-Kabisi said the incident of a couple standing on a stage and dancing was neither organized not planned by the commission. “It was a random individual act,” Al-Kabisi said.

The head of Fan Al-Joud Band, Mousa Hikmi, said the girl that was on stage was only 10 years old and that they were performing a skit.

In light of the recent incidents, the Shoura Council was considering the enforcement of a law on public conduct, which stipulates a prison term of three months and a maximum fine of SR3,000 for violators.

Commenting on the dancing duet in Abha, lawyer Saleh Musfir said the incident was under the jurisdiction of Public Prosecution.

“The prosecution can take the case to the court. The punishment for such incidents can vary from signing of a plegde to imprisonment and lashings,” said Musfir.

Lawyer Abdulkarim Al-Qadi said the punishment for the incident in Abha varies between lashing and imprisonment depending on the results of the investigation submitted by the prosecution in court.

“As for the case of the Corniche bride, the couple will face imprisonment and lashing. If they were expatriates they may be deported,” said Al-Qadi.

Lawyer Nisreen Al-Ghamdi said the incident on the Corniche required further investigations.

“We need to understand the details of the incident. I would personally blame the groom for exposing his bride in such a manner on their first day of marriage,” said Al-Ghamdi.