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Saudi Cabinet approves measure criminalising sexual harassment

 

Saudi Arabia women arrive to a rally to celebrate the 87th annual National Day of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia September 23, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

 

DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Cabinet on Tuesday approved a measure criminalising sexual harassment, the state news agency SPA reported, weeks before a decades-old ban on women driving is set to expire.

 

The legislation, which awaits an expected royal decree to become law, is the latest in a series of reforms that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has initiated in a bid to modernise the deeply conservative Muslim kingdom.

 

Prince Mohammed is also trying to diversify the Arab world's largest economy away from oil exports and open up Saudis' cloistered lifestyles by easing strict social rules and promoting entertainment.

 

The anti-harassment measure, which was approved on Monday by the Shura Council advisory body, introduces a jail sentence of up to five years and a 300,000 riyals ($80,000) fine.

 

"(The legislation) aims at combating the crime of harassment, preventing it, applying punishment against perpetrators and protecting the victims in order to safeguard the individual’s privacy, dignity and personal freedom which are guaranteed by Islamic law and regulations,” a statement from the Shura Council said.

 

Last year’s decision to end the ban on women driving cars, set to take effect on June 24, has been hailed as proof of a progressive trend in the kingdom.

 

But earlier this month, authorities arrested nearly a dozen women's rights campaigners who had previously agitated for the right to drive and an end to the kingdom’s male guardianship system.

 

The United Nations called on the Saudi government on Tuesday to provide information about the detained activists, disclose their locations and ensure their rights.

 

($1 = 3.7503 riyals)

 

(Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi and Stephen Kalin; Editing by Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-30

[Get Real]

It would be nice if they fixed the attire also. It can´t be easy for any man to know if it´s his wife or somebody else walking in trough the door.

[Bluespunk]

41 minutes ago, Get Real said:

It would be nice if they fixed the attire also. It can´t be easy for any man to know if it´s his wife or somebody else walking in trough the door.

There are moves being made to end the compulsory wearing of the abaya, but no legislation yet. 

 

It’s an extremely conservative society and even the small, basic steps being taken are controversial to some minds. 

 

The arrest of activists, who support the low level moves being taken towards some form of equality, mentioned in the story, show just how far Saudi has to go. 

Edited May 30, 2018 by Bluespunk
Commas

[GOLDBUGGY]

I wonder if this applies to maids from poorer countries like Malaysia of Philippians? This seems to be where much of this sexual harassment cases would come from.

 

Saudi Men can't get close enough to a Saudi Woman to sexually harass them. Even at, or especially at, work or school as they are all segregated there. Unless of course he does this over a telephone or internet, and even then only with male relative approval to even talk to them.

 

So if not for Saudi Women, or maids, then who would this new law apply to?