Saudi Woman Arrested for Posting Photos of Herself Without a Hijab on Twitter

Saudi police have arrested a woman who took off her headscarf and full body covering in public and posted photos of herself on Twitter on a main street in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, last month.

According to AFP, police arrested the woman, who has not been named by authorities, on Monday. The woman, who is now in prison, has also been accused of “speaking openly about prohibited relations with (non-related) men,” the news wire reports.

In a statement, Saudi police spokesman Fawaz al-Maiman wrote that “the action of this woman violates the laws applied in this country.” He urged the public to “adhere to the teachings of Islam.” According to the International Business Times, when the woman’s photos began circulating on social media, many Twitter users urged violent punishments, with one writing “Kill her and throw her corpse to the dogs.” “The least punishment for her is beheading her,” another wrote. Others, though, responded with messages of support.

Women are required to wear the hijab and the traditional body covering known as the abaya in Saudi society, which has some of the world’s tightest restrictions on women and is the only country where they are not allowed to drive. Women were only allowed to vote in Saudi municipal elections for the first time last December, and they are required to obtain permission from their husband or a male relative to travel outside the country.