Some Saudis Danced on National Day. Then Came the Backlash
- National Day celebrations included music, gender mixing
- Conservative backlash on social media criticizes display
A projection depicts a portrait of King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an event in Riyadh commemorating the anniversary of the founding of the kingdom.
Source: AFP via Getty ImagesSaudi men and women danced in the streets of Riyadh this weekend as the Islamic kingdom celebrated its founding eight decades ago. The backlash began on Monday.
Pulsating lights, a DJ blasting electronic music and food trucks on Tahlia Street on Saturday led some Saudis to declare the start of a new era in a country better known for its austere interpretation of Islam. Within two days, though, one local Twitter hashtag called for the religious police, whose powers were curbed last year, to restore moral order. “We rejoice but we don’t disobey God,” Nashmi Albaier posted on Twitter to his 88,000 followers.