Talking to someone over the internet and posting it on social media is apparently an offense punishable by law in Saudi Arabia. This is what happened to a Saudi Arabian boy named Abu Sin, who went on a video chat with American blogger Christina Crockett.
The exchange happened on Crockett's page in the video broadcasting site YouNow. Crockett occasionally invites her followers on a video chat and she decided to pick Abu Sin. "I guested this kid - I don't know what he's saying because I don't speak Arabic, [but] everyone thought he was really funny, and everyone liked him, and I guess this video went viral," she told The Guardian.
In the video, Abu Sin and Crockett struggled to communicate, but were able to introduce each other. Abu Sin can be heard telling Crockett "I love you" repeatedly, with Crockett visibly touched. The interaction lasted for over four minutes, with both parties managing to finish a conversation that's mostly accompanied with hand gestures.
When asked about Abu Sin's arrest, Crockett said: "I think it's terrible and I don't think he deserves it."
According to the Saudi Gazette, 19-year-old Abu Sin was arrested for unethical behavior. "His videos received many comments and many of the commenters of the general public demanded for him to be punished for his actions," Riyadh Police spokesman Col. Fawaz Al-Mayman said.
Abu Sin is said to have violated Shariah Law and the country's information technology law. According to lawyer Abdulrahman Al-Lahem, Sin could face one to three years of prison depending on the sentence issued by the judge.
Shariah Law in Saudi Arabia is enforced strictly and includes a rule wherein a woman cannot speak alone to a man who is not her husband or relative.
Abu Sin was able to record his own arrest while on another video chat. The entire process was recorded and uploaded to YouTube, with Sin getting inside the police car.
