Local authorities in the Saudi region of Asir briefly arrested a Saudi man for violating law by painting his mobile phone number on a wall, Saudi media reported Monday.
His arrest came on an order from Governor of Asir Prince Turki Bin Talala Bin Abdulaziz for violating the kingdom’s Public Decorum Code and a local initiative to keep the region beautiful, a local official said.
A photo posted by Asir authorities on their official Twitter showed a mobile number daubed on a wall with an X sign in red on it in Asir's town of Al Souda.
“Complying with the governor’s order, the citizen was arrested and booked for infringing public decorum. He also made a written pledge not to repeat the act,” chief of Al Souda Abdullah Bin Hashbl, said.
The Public Decorum Code, which took effect last year in Saudi Arabia, bans writings and graffiti on walls in public places, or means of transport unless licensed by a competent agency.
The regulations also ban wearing “inappropriate” attire, acting immorally in public and playing loud music in residential areas. Offenders face fines ranging from 50 to 3,000 riyals, depending on the type of the infringement.