A video posted on Twitter showing a celebration at a wedding in Saudi Arabia, which would have otherwise gone unnoticed, ended up causing a comprehensive online debate on racism and sexism in the kingdom.
The debate arose because the wedding guest who posted the video pointed out that the Saudi bride was marrying a Syrian, not a Saudi groom. Saeed El-Harby, who attended the wedding in the Orouba Palace in Medina, wrote "this is how racism falls," as he posted the video.
What followed was the launch of the trending hashtag "the marriage of a Harb woman (a member of the Harb tribe) and a Syrian in Medina," which prompted various public discussions about the private event in more than 50,000 tweets.
Racism led the debate, with many pointing out that marrying a foreigner is against Saudi tradition. "Harb are the only ones whose girls leave their traditions and marry foreigners, there is no Arab tribe that allows their girls to leave their traditions," wrote one Twitter user.
Another Twitter user wrote: "I've never heard of a Saudi woman married to a foreigner except in the media, but there is no problem with me saying my opinion regarding the false matter. The Saudi woman who wants to marry a foreigner actually wants to marry poverty, humiliation and insult."
Others pointed out that even though a Saudi woman has the right to marry whomever she wants, she will suffer consequences. "It is her right to marry the one she chooses for herself, but she can't come tomorrow and yell 'my kids and my husband are foreigners' and demand citizenship for them. Think before you decide," wrote one user.
Despite the amount of negativity that poured out through the Twitter feed, the online debate also showed support for the couple and the equality their union represented. Many Twitter users pointed out that tribal racism in Saudi Arabia has nothing to do with Islamic teachings, but with tribal customs and traditions.
"Bilal Bin Rabah Al-Habashi married Hala Bint Ouf Al-Qurayshia, Islam abolished ignorant and racist traditions and with your ignorance you are reviving them," wrote one Twitter user. He was referring to one of the most famous examples of interracial unions in Islamic history, when the trusted Ethiopian companion of Prophet Mohammed married a member of one of the most powerful tribes in the Arabian peninsula.
Another user showed an excerpt from a book that says: "I really pity one who is chained by the detestable boundaries of racism and who remains with the evolution of cultures, under the influence of ignorance in treating others. I really pity one who respects people and evaluates their morals based on their origins and not based on their behaviors, cultures and level of integrity."
Another user expressed anger because "after 14 centuries of Islam, racism and stupid prejudiced tribal delusions still prevail the depths of human ignorance in the 21st century."
In addition, some users pointed out the sexism that lies behind the racism as they stated that if it had been a Saudi man marrying a foreigner, the topic wouldn't have gotten as much attention. One woman wrote: "If a Saudi man had married a foreigner, it would have been fine but a Saudi woman marrying a foreigner is unacceptable and prohibited! If a Saudi man had married a foreigner, you wouldn't have cared."
Due to deep-seated tribal-based prejudice in Saudi Arabia, marrying foreigners has always been controversial in the country. It has often been viewed as culturally unacceptable at best and despite it becoming more prevalent in recent years, many Saudis still hold such views.
Even though there is no law banning interracial marriage in the kingdom, there is a law to regulate it . In addition to receiving societal condemnation, a Saudi citizen who wishes to marry a foreigner has to have their request approved by a government committee and their spouse has to comply with a number of rules, with violation fines reaching 100,000 riyals ($26,664).