A group of more than a dozen women gave Dubai residents a full eye view when they posed naked on a balcony in a feat that went viral – and also led them into a difficult situation with local authorities.
Women were arrested on charges of public debauchery in the United Arab Emirates, where violations of public decency law – including nudity and other “obscene behaviors” – carry sentences of up to six months in prison, in addition to heavy fines.
Videos and images of the women, lined up in their birthday suits in Dubai’s luxurious Marina district, were a hit on social media this weekend – shocking the federation of seven Arab sheikdoms.
Many more moderate behaviors, like kissing in public or drinking alcohol without a license, have put people behind bars.
The state newspaper The National reported that the display of grimy women appeared to be a “publicity stunt”, without giving further details.
The police said that the women arrested for the “indecent” video were referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
“These unacceptable behaviors do not reflect the values and ethics of Emirati society,” the police said in a statement.
Although it is liberal compared to its neighbors in the Middle East, the UAE has strict rules that govern expression based on Islamic law, or Shariah.