Police received a report of the 15-year-old’s escape on Wednesday night, eight hours after she went missing from her father’s house in Al-Majed neighborhood.

The father filed a report at the police station, adding that his daughter was young and could easily fall victim to any crime. He also claimed that she was suffering from psychological problems.

Police launched a massive search for the missing girl in and around Taif, distributing pictures of her as well as a description to all police stations.

An undercover police unit eventually spotted the girl leaving a pharmacy in Taif and tailed her until she entered the women’s section of a local mosque.

Police moved in and took the girl into custody. Police notified the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) and also called the father to come and formally identify the girl.

When the father arrived, he tried to assault the daughter in front of the police but Haia members intervened.

Officers then talked to the girl, who said that the father was beating her up all the time.

Police are currently holding the girl in a shelter pending the results of an investigation, which will determine whether it is safe for her to return home. Neighbors also reportedly told police that the girl was a victim of domestic violence.