Saudi officials call for the arrest of a female rapper after she released an ‘insulting’ music video referring to women from Mecca as ‘sugar candy’
- Video was released by Saudi rapper Asayel Slay but has been branded ‘insulting’
- Calls women from holy city ‘powerful and beautiful’ and calls them ‘sugar candy’
- Prince Khalid bin Faisal of Mecca said it offends the customs and traditions of the people of Mecca
Officials in Saudi Arabia have called for the arrest of a female rapper after she released a music video for a song praising girls from Mecca.
The ‘insulting’ music video – which was uploaded to YouTube – calls the women from the holy city ‘powerful and beautiful’ and goes on to describe them as ‘sugar candy’.
The video was released by Saudi rapper, Asayel Slay and talks about women from the holy city of Mecca – the birthplace of Prophet Mohammed where millions of Muslims make a pilgrimage to each year during Hajj.
In the song she sings the line: ‘Our respect to other girls but the Mecca girl is sugar candy.’
The ‘insulting’ music video – which was uploaded to YouTube by rapper Asayel Slay (pictured) – calls the women from the holy city ‘powerful and beautiful’ and goes on to describe them as ‘sugar candy’
The music video is shot in a coffee shop as several young people dance around in the background and the rapper herself wears an ankle-length dress and headscarf.
On Thursday, Mecca regional authorities said in a Tweet that the governor had issued orders that Ayasel and the video production team be prosecuted, according to Aljazeera.
‘Prince Khalid bin Faisal of Mecca has ordered the arrest of those responsible for the Bint Mecca rap song, which offends the customs and traditions of the people of Mecca and contradicts the identity and traditions of its esteemed population,’ the tweet said.
In the song she sings the line: ‘Our respect to other girls but the Mecca girl is sugar candy’. Pictured is a screen grab from the music video which is shot in a cafe
Social media users have rallied around Asayel, blasting Saudi bosses as hypocritical.
On Twitter, users shared the hashtag #Mecca_Girl_Represents_Me in solidarity with the rapper.
Asayel Slay’s Youtube account has been suspended and the video removed.
Asayel Slay’s Youtube account has been suspended and the video removed
On Twitter, users shared the hashtag #Mecca_Girl_Represents_Me in solidarity with the rapper (pictured)
Saudi Arabia has in recent years implemented a series of social and economic reforms, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, including giving women the right to drive.
He is also making efforts to promote a more modern image of the kingdom abroad as part of the Vision 2030 scheme.
The likes of Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and BTS have been invited to perform.
Minaj dropped out following backlash, citing her support for women and the LGBT community.