Members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice arrested the two men in Riyadh for violating local laws and engaging in "exotic practices", Al Hayat newspaper said. They were then made to sign a pledge that they would not go out again.
Despite this, al-Khayyal told the Independent that he would continue to give out free hugs and he was proud of what he had done. He said he considered it an act of charity.
The religious police in Saudi Arabia are tasked with enforcing the Government's Sharia law.
They are also known as the Mutaween and empowered to stop unrelated men and women socialising with each other, as well as any homosexual activity and prostitution. They enforce strict Islamic dress codes and dietary rules.
They have come under heavy criticism in the past, most notably in March 2002, when they prevented schoolgirls from escaping a burning school in Mecca because they were not wearing headscarves and abayas (black robes) and accompanied by a male guardian. Fifteen girls died and 50 were injured as a result.
- Independent
