Saudi Arabia: Female fitness centre shut over video showing woman in figure-hugging workout attire
Wednesday, April 25, 2018 IST
Riyadh: Saudi sports authorities shut down a female fitness centre in Riyadh on Friday over a contentious promotional video that appeared to show a woman in figure-hugging workout attire. "We are not going to tolerate this," Saudi sports authority chief Turki al-Sheikh tweeted as he ordered that the centre's license be withdrawn. Sheikh, an adviser to powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also told authorities to investigate and prosecute those behind the video. The video, which was widely circulated on social media but could not be independently verified by AFP, showed a woman with uncovered hair in what appeared to be a gym and kicking a punching bag.
The General Sports Authority said the video contained scenes that could corrupt public morals. Saud al-Qahtani, a media adviser to the royal court, lauded the sports authority's swift response, saying on Twitter that the kingdom was on the path of "moderation without moral breakdown". Women are required to wear body-shrouding abaya robes and also cover their hair in public in parts of the ultra-conservative kingdom, which has some of the world's toughest restrictions on women. Last July, police questioned a woman after she appeared in a series of videos, initially posted to Snapchat, wearing a crop top and a high-waisted miniskirt.
She had been filmed walking through the historic fort of Ushaiqer, north of Riyadh, and playing with sand in the dunes. She was later released without charge. Saudi Arabia, in the midst of a far-reaching liberalisation drive, will allow women to drive from June and recently permitted them to enter sports stadiums for the first time. The government is also seeking to jump-start women's sports and is moving toward compulsory physical education classes for girls, after a ban was lifted in 2014. But the kingdom still requires women to seek permission from a male guardian -- usually a father, husband or brother -- to study, work or travel.
Related Topics
Trending News & Articles
Nanda Vrata is dedicated to Shiva and it is believed that Goddess Sati observed this vrat to get Shiva as her husband. It is observed during Phalgun Shukla Paksha...
Recently posted . 17K views . 3 min read
This question has seeked me ever since I can remember ...from my childhood..in my dreams...in my realisation and my internal assimilation of Lord Krishna as my god....
Recently posted . 9K views . 1 min read
Story of Sharabha and Narasimha
In Hinduism, the ‘trimurti’ (Gods) - Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, are...
Recently posted . 7K views . 1 min read
Have any of you realised how beneficial and helpful the lemon is when kept in a transparent glass of water, what it does? Here is the lemon ...
Recently posted . 6K views . 1 min read
More in Global
Peace is not understood only in terms of avoiding war; peace is to establish an active culture of living in peace. Since ages, we have found excuses to fight. If ...
Recently posted. 960 views . 2 min read
1) Believe in God ! - Aastik - Accepted
2) Don't believe in God ! - Even then you'r...
Recently posted. 2K views . 1 min read
Birth of Sandhya and Kama
Once Lord Brahma was holding his court when all of a sudden a beauteous female pop...
Recently posted. 2K views . 4 min read
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 3K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Hanuman Jayanti: This time Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on March 31. Known for his strong intent, grit and physical energy, Lord Hanuman was said to have been ab...
Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read
Those Nepal prayer flags you’ve hung at your desk and on your bike are not just some fancy accessory. Everything right from the colour to the words on the fla...
Recently posted. 1K views . 2 min read