MANILA, Philippines — The 19 Filipinas arrested on Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for attending a Halloween party were turned over to the Philippine embassy, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
In a report to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto said Saudi authorities decided to “temporarily release (the Filipinas to the) custody” of the embassy.
Alonto said the Filipinas, along with other foreign nationals, may face charges for violating Shari’a law that prohibits interaction, especially in public, among men and women who are not married or related to each other.
Alonto added that Chief Prosecutor Khalid Al Hozaimi provided the names of the 19 Filipinas.
As this developed, the DFA reminded Filipinos abroad to be mindful of the laws and traditions of their host countries.
Earlier yesterday, DFA Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato said the Filipinas were detained at the Al Nisa Jail.
The Filipinas were among those taken into custody by Saudi intelligence operatives during a raid in a compound in Riyadh where the Halloween party took place on Friday.
The compound was raided after neighbors complained of loud noise from the party, Cato said.