Saudi Arabia arrests Egyptian social media star Tala Safwan for 'immorality'

An Egyptian social media star has been detained in Saudi Arabia under accusations of being immoral and sexually suggestive online.

Tala Safwan – who creates content on TikTok and YouTube – allegedly appeared in a recent TikTok live broadcast, which has been accused of having homosexual, lesbian undertones.

The influencer’s arrest in the conservative kingdom – where homosexuality is a potential capital offence - has stirred controversy across social media, as many expressed anger using a hashtag translating to 'Tala Offends Society’, while others defended her.

“The Riyadh police arrested a resident who appeared in a broadcast talking to another [person] with sexual content and suggestions that would harm public morals,” the Saudi Public Security wrote in a statement.

شرطة منطقة الرياض تقبض على مقيمة ظهرت في بثّ تتحدث مع أخرى بمضامين وإيحاءات جنسية من شأنها المساس بالآداب العامة. pic.twitter.com/UfWaernDc0

— الأمن العام (@security_gov) July 25, 2022

The police did not name Safwan in the statement but included a blurred version of the video in question containing the star.

Videos that fans posted containing the audio show Safwan asking a woman “when are you coming… to my house… visit me I’m alone in Riyadh”.

When the woman told her no, saying it’s 3:30am, Safwan is heard saying “that’s the best thing, everyone is asleep", before continuing on the conversation.

Safwan – who has almost 4.9 million followers on TikTok and over 800,000 followers on YouTube – denied making lesbian references and said she has been misunderstood and that the clip was taken out of context, according to the BBC.

Many agreed with the authorities' decision to arrest Safwan, as some suggested she was harmful to society and that the outcome should result in her deportation.

“Frankly, the figures like this... come out of Saudi Arabia ruining our daughters, may God protect them”, one twitter user said.

صراحه الاشكال الي زي هذي #تالا_صفوان تطلع برا السعوديه تخرب بناتنا ربي يحفظهم ياخي تروح لمصر اصرف لها سيماهم في وجوههم من شكلها تعرف انها مهوب صاحيه.

— hsh 4338 (@Hsh4338) July 27, 2022

“I hope the Public Prosecution office will tighten the penalty on her with deportation” another said. 

اتمنى من النيابه تشديد العقوبه عليها مع ترحيل ومنع من دخول #السعوديه
ياغريب كن أديب اعتذر عن الألفاظ الي بالمقطع لاكن نزلته علشان الي يدافعوان عنها سواء من #مصر او هنا ويقولون كلمها عادي ما فيه شي أسمعوا محتواها #تالا_تسيء_للمجتمع #تالا_صفوان

— بنت حمره🏃أسرع وحده بالحارة (@G42395216) July 27, 2022

Others defended Safwan and condemned the authorities’ move, stating the Middle East has “no freedom of choice”.

Tala Safwan: Egyptian TikToker held in Saudi over 'immoral' video CRAZY IDIOTS WTF??? Tell her to leave and move to the west , totalitarian state no freedom of choice or thought https://t.co/zux2SIp8Br

— rng8899 (@rng88991) July 26, 2022

Some also defended her from a religious point of view, stating “every son of Adam makes mistakes”. 

غريبين ! فجاءه ترفعون الشخص وفجاءه تنزلونه لسابع قاع ! لا تتشمتون خلاص يابشر قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "كل ابن آدم خطاء وخير الخطائين التوابون" وأنتم لو أحد دْابح أحد دبرتوا له ديه وغطيتوا عليه! كثييير اشياء محد مركز فيها رغم أنها خطاء خلونا ساكتين أفضل"أتقوا ربكم"#تالا_صفوان

— ِ (@Vg6iii) July 27, 2022

Last month, officials in the kingdom seized rainbow-coloured toys as part of a crackdown on homosexuality.

They have also banned films containing same sex kisses, including Disney’s animation Lightyear, which was also banned in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman.