JEDDAH — Security forces arrested Tuesday evening a citizen who produced a video mocking cultural habits of ostentation after the video went viral on social media.
Riyadh Police have confirmed that they arrested the man who published the video clip, which showed a citizen trying to wash the hands of his guests with his child's blood, instead of honey and oud as is the practice.
Riyadh Police spokesman Fawaz Al-Maiman said officers arrested the people involved in the "blood" scene of the video.
"Directives were issued to start a criminal investigation and police were able to identify and catch the video makers. They were brought to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution office to complete the investigation procedures," Al-Maiman said.
He said Riyadh Police warned of the consequences of these "absurd" actions that reflect a "bad image of the community."
Social worker Ahmed Al-Sinani said: "This situation exceeded all reasonable limits and we now fear for our children's identity who are falling victims of excess waste and ostentation."
He said these phenomena reflect social hypocrisy and are expressed in unhealthy ways. "The goal is to seek fame in any form," he added.
Al-Sinani stressed that exaggerated generosity has become a way to gain personal favors from businessmen and others.
"Involving children in those scenes is something that shakes their personalities and impacts them in a negative way," he said.
Adviser on human rights Said Mastour said children have legitimate rights, and the country's laws and international agreements confirm these rights. Whatever emerged through the video was a violation of the child's rights, he added.
"The community must take into account the rights of the child. We must make sure that we raise a conscientious generation that can participate in the social, economic and political development of the community and the country," Mastour said.
The video is not the only case of exploiting children; other clips have emerged over the past two days, including a clip showing a citizen granting his three sons as gifts to a guest. Forensic adviser and preacher Sheikh Ali Al-Maliki said children are God's gift to their families so they should not be treated in this manner.
"Authorities must hold accountable these parents and penalize them because no one has the right to do this to any child, even to their own child," he said.
