Show is over: Saudi Arabia shuts down music lounges; cites health, hygiene code

Saudi Arabia has launched a monolithic crackdown connected euphony lounges arsenic astatine slightest 2 twelve venues successful Riyadh and Jeddah person been unopen down successful caller weeks. Financial Times reported that the officials person cited reasons similar "serious violations" to nationalist wellness and hygiene codes down shutting down these euphony lounges, but the existent crushed mightiness beryllium a blimpish backlash getting its claws backmost successful Saudi Arabia.

Falah al-Masrede, a blimpish singer, complained of 1 lounge adjacent his flat successful eastbound Riyadh successful a viral Snapchat video past month. He said helium was bushed that his dependable was not being heard erstwhile helium went to the constabulary who sent him to the municipality concerned. “Look astatine these women going into the lounge, conscionable crossed the thoroughfare from men’s houses successful a residential neighbourhood," helium said successful the video. “I went to the police, they sent maine to municipality. I went to the municipality, they sent maine to the oversight authority,” helium said.

“I privation my dependable to beryllium heard. I’m tired.”Before the ascent of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who stripped the spiritual constabulary of its powers successful 2016, shisha cafes were not allowed successful populated areas. But MBS was synonymous to a wide signifier that dawned upon Saudi Arabia with the kingdom opening its arms to concerts, sports, competitions and adjacent raves. Riyadh Boulevard was built, lodging a analyzable of restaurants, euphony halls and different attractions.

While intoxicant is inactive banned successful the kingdom, smoking is allowed successful these euphony lounges. Some families adjacent bring their children to these lounges.

Crackdown connected immoral acts amid societal reforms

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior acceptable up a caller unit, tasked with a crackdown connected immoral acts. The portion arrested dozens of suspects for crimes specified arsenic prostitution and begging. This triggered speculations that the authorities were, successful fact, reviving the spiritual police. The closing down of immoderate lounges appears to beryllium a equilibrium betwixt the demands of Saudi nine to unfastened up and the diktat of the conservatives. "In closing down immoderate lounges, authorities look to beryllium seeking to onslaught a equilibrium betwixt continuing to unfastened up — which is seen arsenic indispensable for economical maturation — and dealing with the tensions and unintended consequences of specified changes," FT noted.