Lawyer and legal advisor Bandar Falah Al-Harbi explained that the crime of harassment refers to every word, deed, or sign of sexual significance, issued by a person towards any other person, affecting his body or honor, or outraging his modesty, by any means, including modern technology, The control system aims to prevent it from occurring, apply punishment to the perpetrators, and protect the victim. This is to preserve the individual’s privacy, dignity and personal freedom, which are guaranteed by the provisions of Sharia and regulations. Anyone who incites others, agrees with them, or assists them in any way whatsoever to commit the crime of harassment shall be punished with the penalty prescribed for the crime. Anyone who initiates a crime of harassment shall be punished not exceeding half the limit. The highest penalty prescribed for it, and whoever submits a malicious report of a crime of harassment, or claims maliciously that he was subjected to it, shall be punished with the penalty prescribed for the crime, and it must be noted that the general right does not forfeit by the victim’s waiver, as the system stipulates that it does not preclude the victim’s waiver or failure to submit A complaint without the right of the competent authorities to take what it deems to achieve the public interest, in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law and other relevant laws.
Lawyer Al-Harbi added that the system calls on everyone who has seen a case of harassment to report to the competent authorities, and everyone who has access – by virtue of his work – to information about any of the cases of harassment is obligated to maintain the confidentiality of the information, and it is not permissible to disclose the identity of the victim, except in cases that require procedures. Inference, investigation, or trial, without prejudice to any other penalty prescribed by the provisions of Islamic law, or any severer penalty stipulated in any other system; shall be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, and a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand riyals, or one of these two penalties; Everyone who has committed a crime of harassment. The penalty for the crime of harassment is imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years, and a fine not exceeding 300,000 riyals, or one of these two penalties.
When will the harasser's name be published?
If the victim is a child or the victim has special needs. And if the perpetrator has direct or indirect authority over the victim, or if the crime occurred in a place of work, study, shelter, or care, or if the perpetrator and the victim were of the same sex, or if the victim was asleep or unconscious, or the like, or if the crime occurred in any In cases of crises, disasters or accidents, a paragraph was added stating that it is permissible to include the ruling issued determining the penalties for publishing a summary of it at the expense of the convict in one or more local newspapers, provided that the publication is after the judgment acquires the final character in application of Islamic law, protection and maintenance of rights and publication For security and stability, preserving lives and honor, and preventing injustice and aggression.
Nahla Hamed Al Jamal (Medina) @nahlah_aljammal
