COVID-19: 92 women held over illegal gathering in Saudi village

Cairo: Saudi police have arrested 92 women for attending a gathering that violated rules against COVID-19 as authorities in the kingdom are cracking down on unlawful gatherings to limit the spread of the contagious ailment.

The gathering took place in a village in the governorate of Ahad Al Masarihah in the south-western region of Jizan, a spokesman for the region’s police said.

“Legal procedures have been taken against the violating women,” the official added.

“Stipulated penalties have been applied to the inviter to the event, the one responsible for the venue and each attendee of the illegal gathering,” he said without details.

In May, Saudi Arabia announced an updated list of fines against violators of virus-controlling regulations including a fine of SR40,000 for the person responsible for social gatherings such as funerals and parties, exceeding the specified numbers of people.

Any person attending such gatherings is fined SR5,000 for the first time with the fine doubled on repetition and could reach SR100,000.

Invitation to such gatherings is punishable by SR10,000 for the first time. The penalty can reach up to SR100,000 on repetition and referral to public prosecution to consider imprisonment.

Violations, punishable by a fine of SR10,000, include refusing to have temperature checked at entrances, failing to wear face masks and observe social distancing, as well as withholding information of health status through the designated apps.

In December, Saudi Arabia initiated mass vaccinations against COVID-19. Over 31 million doses have since been administered across the kingdom, according to the latest figures from the Health Ministry.