Taxi driver harasses Saudi woman in viral video, gets arrested

A taxi driver who was seen harassing a woman in a viral video was arrested by Saudi authorities on Thursday, Twasul news site reported. 

In the footage, the abuser can be seen making "inappropriate" gestures and verbally harassing the victim, who filmed the entire ordeal.

In his statement on the matter, official spokesman for Mecca Police, Atti bin Atia Al Qureshi, said the incident took place in Jeddah. 

"In reference to the viral footage of a driver harassing a female passenger, we assure people that the victim has already filed a report of the incident with Jeddah's police department," he explained.

"The defendant has since been identified and arrested. His case has now been transferred to prosecution," he added. 

Soon after news of the incident started circulating online, it saw many react to it. 

While some turned to the victim-blaming rhetoric, others completely shut them done.

"They did a great job."

"If every woman dresses modestly she wouldn't get hurt."

"The sole cause of this is the lack of laws that can deter these types of human beings."

"Where's the sexual harassment law?"

In recent months, several cases of sexual harassment against women have been reported in the kingdom. 

In reaction to that, many are calling on authorities to speed up the process of imposing a sexual harassment law, which is currently being drafted by Saudi authorities. 

In September, King Salman issued a royal decree calling upon the kingdom's interior minister to draft a law that criminalizes sexual harassment and enforces penalties on perpetrators. 

A copy of the decree, which circulated online at the time, read: 

"Considering the dangers sexual harassment poses and its negative impact on the individual, the family and society, along with its contradiction of Islamic principles, our customs and traditions [...], the ministry shall prepare a draft law to tackle sexual harassment."

The decree also went on to note the "importance of passing a law that criminalizes it [sexual harassment] and outlines the necessary penalties that categorically prohibit such acts and deter anyone who feels tempted to commit them."

The law is of vital importance in the kingdom, where women continue to face high rates of sexual harassment.