The Kingdom and its officials have approved a draft law that will criminalise sexual harassment, as announced on Tuesday. According to Arabian Business, the Shoura Council, approved the draft on Monday, introducing that offenders can receive jail time of up to five years and a monetary penalty of SAR 300,000. 

The move is now being seen as an ‘important addition to the history of regulations in the kingdom,” Shoura Council member Latifa Al-Shaalan said in a statement. 

“(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.”

Statement from the Shoura Council (via Arab News)

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Months ago, King Salman ordered the Ministry of Interior to draft a law that will criminalise predators

In September 2017, it was announced that King Salman had ordered the Ministry of Interior to draft a law to criminalise sexual harassment. In a royal decree, the importance of this law to be drafted was mentioned. 

A 2014 study showed that 80% of women in the Kingdom have experienced sexual harassment. 

In that case, then this is one bold and very positive mood in ensuring the safety of not just women but men all over Saudi too.

عاجل | خادم الحرمين يأمر بإعداد نظام لمكافحة التحرش خلال 60 يوم#امر_سامي_بسن_قانون_ضد_التحرش

: pic.twitter.com/svx5Tedp5u

— السعودية (@KSA) September 28, 2017

A part of it reads.. “the importance of passing a law that criminalises it [sexual harassment] and outlines the necessary penalties that categorically prohibit such acts and deter anyone who feels tempted to commit them.”