Ben Preiss
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The number of Saudi teens posting videos of illegal stunts in cars, joyriding, bullying and political dissent on YouTube is growing. Due to Islamic prohibitions, Saudi boys cannot go to cinemas, mix with unrelated women or even enter some shopping malls. As a result of their restricted boredom, they take to racing in the streets in Porsches and a BMWs, trying some crazy stunts. The video posted here, “Only in Saudi Arabia,” shows two Saudi teenagers hanging from the doors of a moving car. The clip received 379,000 hits in a year! Some other postings include political material as a new generation of Saudis try to gain independence under a restrictive system.  "There are daily clips of cars 'drifting' in the streets of Riyadh," says Saif, a 21-year-old university student referring to the current fad for performing stunts and joyriding.
"One recent popular video shows a luxurious Porsche and a BMW racing in Tahliya Street in Riyadh," he added, referring to the plush avenue where men fill sidewalk cafes in the evening.
The government said last month it would impose heavy fines and jail sentences in an effort to combat the growing incidence of dangerous driving by thrill-seeking youths.
"Teenagers have nothing better to do. Most of them have the latest cars, they've got licenses, petrol is cheap and the streets are wide," said Ayman, another university student.
"A lot of the videos circulated among young people focus on car racing, music and Saudis dancing inside their cars."
He pointed to a fad for throwing eggs at women who refuse the advances of men who hassle them in the street for their telephone number -- that has also appeared on YouTube after Ayman caught it on his mobile phone camera.
School bullying has also shown up, such as one recent clip titled "Hisham gets beaten up BAD" and others provide a public service by drawing attention to health hazards.
Footage of a rat eating from a chicken shawarma sandwich in a restaurant received angry feedback from the public, although Saudi newspapers refrained from taking up the issue.
YouTube is also proving to be an outlet for political material. Footage of a prison officer beating prisoners appeared on Web sites this year, prompting condemnation from New York-based Human Rights Watch.
(news.yahoo)References: news.yahoo Filed In: |
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