Saudis outraged after expat worker slapped for eating during fasting hours

Earlier this week, a viral video of a migrant worker being slapped for eating during the Ramadan fast angered thousands in Saudi Arabia. 

The Snapchat footage reportedly began circulating on social media on Friday, June 9. 

In it, a worker can be seen sitting with food next to him, when a person approaches him, then slaps him while screaming "you're eating during Ramadan!" 

Even though it's illegal to eat in public during Ramadan fasting hours across the kingdom and in many other Arab countries, inside homes or other private areas people have the right to break the fast. 

As soon as the video began circulating on Twitter, thousands took to the platform expressing their outrage via the hashtag: #شاب_يصفع_عامل (Young man slaps worker).

While a few people speculated that the video might be a staged stunt or a prank, others refused to believe that. 

They explained that no matter what the man's intentions were, his actions do not reflect the values of Islam, nor do they represent millions of Saudis who respect foreign workers and their rights.

"Naivety and irrationality have no place in our religion, this man has nothing to do with Islam."

"I can't even comment... have mercy on others if you want God to have mercy on you." 

"We must demand a law that protects migrant workers from such  unacceptable abuse." 

"He has absolutely no right to do this... this isn't a reflection of Islam, a religion based on leniency. The person who filmed this video must be held accountable." 

"Fasting isn't only about food."