The festival of Halloween was celebrated in Saudi Arabia in which revelers dressed up in scary costumes flocked to the event held in the capital Riyadh.

As part of the continuing Riyadh Season, the “Scary Weekend” event was held on Thursday and Friday at Riyadh’s Boulevard.

The Boulevard was transformed into a costume party with free admission for dressed-up guests as long as they donned frightful attire.

The purpose of the event was to display horrifying disguises and display locals’ and Saudis’ inventive creations. It was also intended to create an environment that was enjoyable, thrilling, and exciting as visitors learned the backstories of the various character outfits.

Halloween celebrations in Saudi Arabia caused widespread controversy on social networking sites after pictures and videos of people dressed in costumes for Halloween surfaced.

The “#Weekend_horror” and “costume of evil” topped Twitter with lightning speed.

It also once again ignited controversy over what is halal or haram to join the West in celebrating non-Islamic events.  

Some have said that Saudi Arabia is following the latest trends and that it is harmful to enjoy Halloween or any other celebration.

People opined that a country that doesn’t allow Eid-e-Milad Un Nabi (birthday of the Prophet Muhammad) celebrates Halloween. Similar criticism is being issued by Muslims around the world.

In addition, some believe that Halloween festivities in Saudi Arabia are meant to add a veneer of modernity to the ignorance embedded in the unbridled Westoxification adopted by the Saudi government in a society with deep Islamic roots.