Understandably, the last thing people would expect at a wedding is to get arrested, but that's not the case if they're attending a celebration held in Saudi Arabia.
Over the weekend, the country's authorities arrested 281 African expats caught at a mixed wedding, which was being held on a farm in Mecca.
According to Adwa Al Watan news site, police in the city raided the venue after receiving an anonymous tip about a large party being held in the area. They then arrested over half of those attending the event as they were found to be violating the kingdom's residency rules.
It was also reported that the wedding party was being attended by both men and women, something restricted in the ultra-conservative kingdom.
According to news reports, no illegal substances of drinks were found at the venue. All those arrested have now been referred to prosecution and will face legal action.
The news broke on Saudi Twitter
And circulated online over the weekend...
Some were all for the arrests
"Africans holding a mixed wedding, they didn't respect Saudi Arabia's rules and disregarded our religion before anything else."
And even called on the deportation of those arrested
"Their residencies should be canceled and they must be deported from the country once and for all."
Others speculated on rumors surrounding the news
"People are saying that there were no men at the event, claiming that is was just a celebration for a newborn. We must double check what the issue is before accusing these people. Injustice is the worst thing."
Many were completely against the arrests
"To hell with regression!! They didn't come to celebrate this event in the middle of the city. They went far away from you and drove all the way to a farm in order to celebrate their traditions, so you follow them there!!"
"What's the problem with this?"
"Is it just because they're African?! If they were Americans celebrating in a compound, it would have been OK. If they were rich and were celebrating this marriage at a luxurious wedding venue, mixed and in public, wouldn't it have been OK? Your racism is vile."
People just couldn't even
"Whats your crime? We held a wedding on a farm."
The news was understandably difficult to comprehend
"OK, so it's an African wedding, what do you have to do with it?! These are their traditions, isn't Saudi opening up to the world now?"
"Poor them, let them celebrate"
Not the first arrest of its kind in the kingdom
This certainly isn't the first time a wedding is raided in the kingdom.
Earlier this year, the country's authorities arrested a bride and forty of her wedding guests because they were found to be violating the kingdom's residency rules.
Five other wedding guests who were drunk were also arrested by police officers at the venue.
According to El Rdar news site, the city's police arrested hundreds of violators in similar raids at the time.
