Saudi Arabia: 10 years in jail, up to SR1 million fine for assaulting teacher
Those who abuse teacher verbally or via social media will also receive same punishment
Dubai: Saudi Arabia has reiterated that anyone who physically or verbally assaults a teacher, whether in person or through social media platforms, will face a 10-year prison sentence and a fine of up to one million riyals.
The kingdom introduced this law in 2018, classifying both physical and verbal abuse of teachers as criminal offences.
The law was updated to include social media and other digital platforms, responding to the increasing misuse of these channels to defame and attack individuals.
This measure was implemented in response to a rise in incidents involving teachers being brutally attacked. Recent years have seen several high-profile cases where students assaulted teachers, both inside schools and on the streets.
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One notable incident involved a student who confronted his teacher, leading to a physical altercation that was captured on video and went viral on social media.
In 2018, a Saudi high school teacher in Taif was left bleeding and injured after a student punched him during class attendance. The law clearly states: “Any physical attack against any of the ministry’s staff will be considered a criminal act that warrants imprisonment and a fine.”