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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Abigail O'Leary

Influencer mum loses custody of kids after husband says tattoos make her 'unfit parent'

An influencer mum lost custody of her children after her husband reportedly persuaded a court her tattoos and green hair made her an unfit parent.

Refa Al-Yemi has a large following on TikTok and Snapchat - regularly posting fitness and health and beauty tips for her fans.

But the fitness coach mum, from Saudi Arabia, was allegedly kidnapped by relatives who reportedly felt her online activity brought shame on the family.

After being removed from her children, her husband was reportedly awarded custody after claiming her tattoos, hair colour and images of her workouts were "proof" that she was not a fit mum.

Refa was allegedly forcibly taken from her apartment in Jeddah by family members who were driving her to Najran.

Refa's husband reportedly told a court her tattoos and dyed hair made her an unfit mum (Newsflash)

But police had stopped the car and arrested four people, reports Albawaba.

Rumours has started to surface online that the popular influencer had been the victim of an "honour killing", with the hashtag #IsRefaKilled? topping trends of Twitter in Saudi.

Authorities said Refa is now in a safe location while being cared for after by social services.

Refa Al-Yami regularly posted fitness tips on social media (Newsflash)

But human rights defenders including Lina Alhathloul - whose sister Loujain was recently released from jail after calling for women’s freedom in Saudi - has slammed her treatment.

In a tweet, Lina claimed: "Rafa was an independent woman. Her male relatives did not like it and abducted her.

"She was found by the police, and instead of being saved, she was put in a  care home aka a prison."

Saudi Police have not confirmed if the four arrested are relatives of Refa.

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