Dirty dancing, drunken teens & sexual harassment: Amman's #8ALA8 festival causes public fury

Jordan

Published: 2018-09-23 12:27

Last Updated: 2024-03-29 06:00


Girls and boys as young as 11 attended the event. (Facebook)
Girls and boys as young as 11 attended the event. (Facebook)

Dozens of young girls were reportedly sexually harassed at a music festival for children and youths in Amman on Friday.

Jordanian social media users exploded with criticism over the event - under the hashtag "8ala8" - which they described as “disgraceful and full of filthy boys and girls.”

Girls and boys as young as 11 attended the event, out of which shocking videos have emerged.

One young girl was seen dancing provocatively with an older boy in a revealing outfit.

Another girl donning what was described as a "skimpy outfit" was filmed sitting on the shoulders of a young boy, before suddenly turning around and confronting someone, after seemingly being inappropriately touched by them from behind.

Many of those who attended the fest claimed that dozens of "scantily-dressed" girls deliberately pushed their bodies against boys in the crowd, while others insisted that several girls were raped at the event.

The organizers, “8ALA8,” had promoted the event as suitable for children, young men and families, promising attendees the biggest colour festival in the Kingdom, karaoke competition, gaming championships, anime and cosplay booths, giveaways, food and a DJ party.

However, the event certainly required parental guidance and police presence, as alcohol was reportedly consumed by many of the youngsters who were in attendance.

Multiple pages under the name “8ALA8 facts” were created on Instagram to “expose what really happened at the festival.”

The Instagram page “8ALA8_facts” posted eight eyewitness accounts of the event.

One person said that “even though I wear the hijab, boys were still harassing me and one of them grabbed by backside, while the security guard didn’t bother helping us.”

Another concerned adult claimed that her 13-year-old sister was sexually harassed at the event and traumatised by a boy who "took out his penis in public."

It may not be socially acceptable to dress in a certain way in Jordan, but needless to say, a woman’s outfit, as provocative as it may be, should never be an excuse for sexual assault or for emotionally victimizing her over her choice of attire.

The “8ALA8” event has caused public outrage and concern for the country’s conservative citizens, who questioned the organizer’s integrity and wondered what steps the Ministry of Interior will take to punish the organizer, and prevent those shocking scenes from repeating themselves at future festivals in the Kingdom.