Saudis call for naming and shaming sexual harassers

Abu Dhabi: Saudis welcomed the prompt response of the Public Prosecution, and the arrest of six harassers of a woman tourist, calling it a message to both harassers and victims that the full force of law will be used against offenders to provide a better environment for women in Saudi Arabia.

They also called for enforcing defamation rules of sexual harassers through posting their names in local newspapers, part of many social and legal reforms that have taken place in the Kingdom over the last several years.

Prince Sattam Bin Khalid Al Saud took to Twitter and wrote: “Those harassers have neither chivalry, nor manners, nor morals. These despicable forms must be exposed so that they may be an example for those offenders .. slander, slander, slander.”

Saudi police arrested six Saudi men for harassing a woman in a car in Riyadh, police said.

“The suspects, all in their 20s, sexually harassed the woman and one of them also rammed the woman’s car, with a vehicle without license plates, and fled the scene,” Major Khaled Al Kreidis, spokesperson of the Riyadh Police, said.

Ibrahim Al Munif said: “Nothing eliminates harassment except deterrent punishments ... It is the right of every citizen, resident or tourist to walk safely without harassment or judgement by anyone.”

Engineer Mohammad Al Ghamdi wrote: “Good news, barbaric people who do not respect law and order, deserve this punishment and more.”

Dr. Aseel Al Juaid, assistant professor of criminal law at the Institute of Public Administration, said: “Harassers may be defamed by the Criminal Court, due to the gravity of the crime and its impact on society.”

Dr. Saeed bin Ali Al Kreidis, an academic and legal advisor and trainer, defined harassment as every verbal expression, deed or motion carrying sexual insinuation made by a person towards another referring to the body and honour or harming modesty in any way including modern technology methods.

Last year, Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council passed a motion to name and shame sexual harassers as part of legal steps to fight sex offences in the country.

In 2018, the council approved a law to criminalise sexual harassment in the kingdom.

The aims of the measure are “fighting the crime of harassment, preventing it, punishing perpetrators and protecting victims, in order to preserve the privacy, dignity and individual freedoms as guaranteed by Islamic jurisprudence and regulations in place”.

The law provides for penalties of up to two years in prison and fines which could amount to $26,600 (Dh97,700). In some cases, such as repeat offences, the sentence could be increased to five years in prison and fines of up to $80,000.

It preserves the anonymity of alleged victims, also criminalises incitement to sexual harassment, as well as falsely reporting an incident to the authorities.

It also stipulates alleged victims cannot withdraw a complaint or fail to report an incident to the police.

The rules also create an obligation for public and private institutions to make all necessary arrangements to prevent harassment.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has sought to fight sex offences and boost women’s rights as part of drastic reforms in the kingdom championed by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.