Saudi woman faces lashing after arrest by morality police for not wearing a hijab Follow @Hitbizafrika

Malak Al Shehri received death threats after she shared a photograph of herself without a hijab or abaya - a traditional body covering - on a street in the capital city of Riyadh. She was then arrested after a complaint was filed by the religious police.

The woman drew a furious reaction from the Saudi public and faced calls to be executed after she was pictured wearing a black jacket over an ankle-length orange and pink dress and boots.


Colonel Fawaz al-Maiman, a Riyadh police spokesman said:

'Police officers have detained a girl who had removed her abaya on al-Tahliya street, implementing a challenge she announced on social media several days ago.'

She now faces a public lashing in accordance with Sharia law. Despite the outrage, there has been voices of dissent who believe the measure is excessive, some courageous people on social media are calling for an end to the country's repressive, religious laws.

The ultra-conservative Muslim country enforces a strict dress code for women in public, banned them from driving and prohibits the mixing of sexes.