What's your point behind this video? That it's OK to attend mixed-gender events? Or that she was with family? Or that it's normal for these things to happen?"
Saudis don't seem to be ready for mixed-gender public spaces...
رمضان يجمعنا بس مو بهالطريقه https://t.co/fkbQLFxip3
— Abo Rogen (@mmrrogen2015) May 19, 2018
"Ramadan should bring us together, but not like this."
Many tweeps thought the footage wasn't shot in the kingdom
الملعب ماهو في المملكه ومتأكد
— هلالي صريح (@nhm40051) May 20, 2018
This playground isn't in the kingdom, I am sure of that."
Others weren't so sure...
خذا المقطع الثاني... pic.twitter.com/4SjpFQzP60
— اتحادي عنيد (@azmalsh) May 19, 2018
For many Saudis, "mixed" public spaces remain out of question...
إمارة جازان تقرر إغلاق منتزه سياحي بعد تناقل فيديو أظهر حفلات غنائية مختلطة ، وتتوعد بمعاقبة المتسبب .
— أخبار السعودية (@SaudiNews50) December 23, 2017
.#حفله_غناييه_مختلطه_بجازان
. pic.twitter.com/anl4nZbDQe
While it remains unclear where the volleyball video was shot, the reaction to it comes as no surprise. Especially given the fact that, to many Saudis, mixed-gender public spaces and events are still deemed unacceptable.
Even though such events are held in private in cities across the ultra-conservative kingdom, they rarely reach social media and when they do, most get cancelled or shut down.
Earlier last year, a mixed-gender concert led to the shut down of a Saudi resort in Jazan after videos of it went viral online.
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