A group of more than a dozen women gave Dubai residents a blink of an eye when they posed naked on a balcony in a stunt that went viral – as well as getting them in hot water with local authorities.
The women were arrested on charges of public debauchery in the United Arab Emirates, where violations of the public morality law – including nudity and other ‘lewd behavior’ – involve sentences of up to six months in the slammer, as well as hefty fines.
Videos and images of the women, set up in their birthday suits in Dubai’s posh Marina district, caused a stir on social media this weekend – a shock to the federation of seven Arab sheikdoms.
Much tamer behavior, such as kissing in public or drinking alcohol without a license, has landed people behind bars.
The state-linked newspaper The National reported that the showing of the women in-the-buff appeared to be a “ publicity stunt, ” without elaborating.
Police said the women arrested for the “indecent” video have been referred to the prosecution.
“Such unacceptable behavior does not reflect the values and ethics of Emirati society,” police said in a statement.
Although they are liberal compared to the neighboring countries in the Middle East, the UAE has strict rules of speech based on Islamic law or Sharia law.