Parents of the little girls who danced at the Buraidah Spring Festival recently are planning to sue those who claimed that their daughters performed in a sexually explicit manner.

The parents were quoted as saying that the online comments by some people were harsh and inappropriate particularly since their daughters are only children of about seven years of age.

They are now planning legal action against the people who posted these comments, and have contacted lawyers.

One parent said: “Unfortunately some very conservative people abused the innocent and spontaneous behavior of children. The little girls participated in a local entertainment event and no one expected such harsh and severe reaction.”

He said the reactions posted on social networking sites should prompt the government and social experts to tackle this issue.

Another parent said he was astonished by the large number of tweeters who posted such harsh comments about his daughter who participated in the event.

“It is very shameful how a number of people could stoop to this level and focus on what little girls do or wear. The girls participated in an innocent and spontaneous way.”

Another parent said his child is suffering from “psychological shock” because she has read what some people have said about her dancing. “This is not the first time they have participated in such national social activities. They have never been subjected to such widespread inappropriate criticism. These are only little children.”

The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, or Haia, in the Qasim region, has also criticized the dancing. The Haia has threatened to punish those responsible, despite the fact that members of the Haia were present when the dance item was included in the festival, and did not object.

Abdullah Mansour, spokesman for the Haia, denounced the video that appeared of the girls dancing and said in a press statement that those responsible would be held accountable.

Mansour said that the executive director of the festival promised Haia members that the event would not be repeated and the responsible persons punished.

Other people online said the event was not immoral because it involved children dancing. One person said that only “sick minds” looked at children sexually.