The Saudi police arrested a woman for taking off her veil in public and posting pictures of her daring action on Twitter.

According to the several media reports, the woman identified as Malak al-Shehri, who posted a picture of her posing without the hijab in a main Riyadh street during last month, which triggered a huge backlash on social media.

Police spokesman Fawaz al-Maiman said in a statement that, the police in the ultra-conservative kingdom acted in line with their duty to monitor "violations of general morals".

The women posted a tweet of herself standing next to a popular Riyadh cafe but without wearing the Islamic headscarf which is required in Saudi society, he said.

The woman, in her 20s, was taken to prison, he said, also accusing her of "speaking openly about prohibited relations with (non-related) men".

"Riyadh police stress that the action of this woman violates the laws applied in this country," Maiman said, urging the public to "adhere to the teachings of Islam".

The Arab Kingdom has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women and is the only country where they are not allowed to drive. Women have to cover from head to toe when in public in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi woman walked outside without hijab, faces calls to be executed

Nandini