Saudi girls use Bluetooth "indecently": report

The wireless technology lets members of the opposite sex flirt serepticiously

DUBAI (Allo Gulf)

Some 85 percent of girls in the ultra-conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia use the Bluetooth feature on their mobile phone "in an indecent manner," a recent survey by the National Human Rights Association revealed.

According to the survey, 99 percent of mobile text messages amongst girls "break social taboos and violate customs and traditions," the Saudi edition of London-based Al-Hayat newspaper reported.

Using Bluetooth is prevalent in public places, traffic jams, restaurants, and cafes. A guy or a girl writes their name in a romantic text message or with an attached picture of a flower bouquet and includes his or her contact details. People within reach are able to get the message and contact the sender.

According to Reem Abu-Eid, head of the campaign the Association launched under the title "I am human," 22 percent of the girls surveyed sent "taboo" messages, while 45 percent sent messages using aliases.

Abu-Eid pointed out that the study included sending half a million messages to cell phones and e-mail addresses to trace the negative influence of the internet on families. It was revealed that divorce rates among pornography surfers are on the rise.

Writing names on a piece of paper and slipping it to another person was the traditional way used by Saudis to get to know people from the other sex, something that is not allowed in normal circumstances. However, this method is now suffering a setback after technology made it easier and less risky.


(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid.)