Manama: Police in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province have arrested motorbike riders who were filmed recklessly speeding on the Corniche highway of Dammam, the largest city, wearing only briefs.
The 29-second clip taken late on Thursday was posted on social media and triggered outrage and angry calls to arrest and punish the riders.
“With reference to the clip displayed on social media on Friday and showing three inappropriately outfitted men riding motorbikes late in the evening in Dammam and breaking traffic rules, the police were able to identify and arrest them,” Ziyad Al Ruqaiti, the spokesperson for the Eastern Province police, said. “They were all Saudi citizens in their thirties.”
The riders were referred to the competent authorities for legal measures, he added.
Online users expressed shock and called for severe action against the riders.
“This is utterly shocking and I still have a hard time believing that the three men were actually in their thirties,” Military Man, a user, said. “They should be jailed and made to clean bathrooms and do all the dirty jobs. They should also be given dozens of lashes to teach them good manners.”
Another user, Saleh, said he was sure the men were not in a normal state of mind.
“There is something totally wrong with them,” he posted. “They are not kids or teenagers playing with one another. They are men in their 30s and they should behave as such. They should be severely punished for all the wrong things they did and for their shocking attitudes.”
Al Ghamdi said the three men should be named and shamed.
“Their families should become more involved in educating them and improving their behaviour if that is the result so far,” he said.
Abu Saeed suggested the posting of their pictures and names in several locations is a way to punish them and to deter others from following their example.
