Jesus Tattoo Allegedly Leads to Soccer Player’s Arrest in Saudi Arabia
October 12, 2011 at 11:14am by Billy Hallowel
Apparently female driving isn’t the only thing that’s banned in Saudi Arabia. Tattoos, too, are another no-no in the ultra-conservative Middle Eastern nation — a lesson that one man and his family have learned all too well.
Juan Pablo Pino, a 24-year-old soccer player from Columbia, was reportedly arrested in Saudi Arabia last Friday. Pino’s apparent offense was walking through a mall, while wearing a sleeveless shirt that exposed his religious tattoos (at least one of which includes Jesus).
The incident allegedly occurred in Riyadh, the nation’s capitol. The Saudi moral police subdued the young man, a member of the Saudi Al Nasr soccer club, after customers complained about the presence of his religious “markings.” According to the Catholic News Agency, Pino was at the mall with his pregnant wife (who was taken into custody with him). Fox News has more:
Nayimi Sheik Mohammed, a Saudi cleric, told Colombia Reports that the country respects Shariah law and that tattoos must be covered at all times.
Pino later apologized for his actions and was released from custody after a team delegate discussed the matter with police.
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