A faith healer in Saudi Arabia has been arrested for exploiting his profession in order to have a relationship with a female client, according to local media reports. The Committee for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice charged the man with having a forbidden relationship with the girl, backed up by evidence found on his phone.
Local sources suggest that a number of “scandalous” messages and photos were found on his personal phone, confirming to authorities his crime. He had allegedly been abusing his position as a faith healer for years.
He reportedly admitted to the relationship, and was referred to the relevant authorities for proper investigation.
Faith healing is still commonly practiced in the kingdom, with many families bringing sick loved ones to a religious healer to be cured.
The incident sparked a hashtag on Twitter, #راقي_شرعي_يقيم_علاقه, which translates to “A religious leader having an affair.” Twitter users tweeted the hashtag to voice their opinions on the incident, with many mocking the entire situation.
See below, via Twitter.
#راقي_شرعي_يقيم_علاقة
الجني السبب و الراقي تاج راسك ياليبرالي— غادهـ (@ghanoda_s) February 23, 2016
The demon is the reason, he had nothing to do with it.
#راقي_شرعي_يقيم_علاقه
— د. أبو النعمان (@d__dreams) February 23, 2016
حدثني جني ثقة
يقول: المرأة كانت ممسوسة و خرج الجني منها
و دخل في الشيخ و جعله يقيم علاقة
و بنو ليبرال يتصيدون#لله_دري
One of the trusted demons told me that the healer is innocent , and what happened is that the demon that possessed her possessed the healer and made him do this to her to make the liberals happy.
#راقي_شرعي_يقيم_علاقة
— Twisted Mind (@Mahmo9d) February 23, 2016
اذا رأيت شيخك يزني لا تقل زنا بل قل عيني هي الزانية
If you see a religious man committing adultery, then you have something wrong with your eyes.
#راقي_شرعي_يقيم_علاقه
— ضمير سعودي (@saudi100d100) February 23, 2016
المجرم أجنبي والفتاة أجنبية ويجي ليبرالي ويقول هذا من آثار الصحوة والتشدد ومناهجنا !! pic.twitter.com/1eUIX0bAuD
The healer is a foreigner as is the girl, and then they blame Saudis and their culture.
