Saudi Arabia outlaws sexual harassment amid reform push

Harassers found guilty could face a jail term of up to two years and fine of 100,000 Saudi riyals

Saudi Arabia’s cabinet endorsed a draft anti-harassment law one day after it was passed by the Shura Council, the kingdom’s legislative advisory body.

The Shura Council had approved the much anticipated draft law less than four weeks before the kingdom officially allows women to drive for the first time.

The draft, endorsed by an 84-vote majority in the 150-member consultative body, defines harassment as any word, act or sign with a sexual connotation by a person to any other person that harms their body or modesty by any means, including through modern technology.

The draft stipulates prison terms of up to two years and/ or fines of up to 100,000 Saudi riyals (Dh97,868) for harassers.

The imprisonment could reach up to five years and the fine 300,000 Saudi riyals in case of repeated offences or if the harassment targets a child or a person with special needs or if the offender has direct authority over the victim, or if the offence occurs in a place of work, study, a shelter or care centre, or if the offender and the victim are of the same sex, or if the victim is unconscious or if the crime occurs during a crisis, disaster or an accident.

False notification

Anyone who incites others, agrees with them or assists them in any way to commit harassment is given the same penalty prescribed for the offender, while anyone who attempts to harass will be given up to half of the maximum punishment.

Anyone who gives a false notification about an act of harassment will be given the same penalty prescribed for the offence, Saudi daily Okaz reported.

The eight-article draft law stresses that its aim is to combat the crime of harassment and prevent it from occurring, to apply punishments against the perpetrators and to protect victims in order to maintain their privacy, dignity and personal freedom.

Under the draft law, all authorities concerned in the governmental and private sectors must take the necessary measures to prevent and combat harassment within their work environment.

The measures include highlighting the procedures to receive complaints and to verify their validity and seriousness in order to maintain their confidentiality. The concerned parties must promote awareness about the law and all related procedures.