RIYADH: The draft bill on sexual harassment stresses intensifying the punishments on any person verbally expressing sexual words or phrases, to five years of prison and the payment of a fine of SR500,000, a local publication reported.
The draft stipulates that the prison period should not be less than 6 months in addition to the payment of a fine of SR50,000 if a sexual harassment crime is committed; if extortion is carried out against a child, even if the offender did not know the victim was a child or a disabled person; if the offender is working in a place of worship or educational premises, or the offender is responsible for the victim; if both the victim and the offender are of the same sex; or if the victim was asleep or unconscious.
Article 1 of the draft bill defines harassment as a crime intended if any sexual behavior comes from one person to another person, and touches his body or honor, or is ethically indecent at any time or place.
The same article states that extortion is a crime in which any person takes advantage of someone else, threatens to expose him, discloses personal information on him, degrades the person for sexual purposes, or indecent behavior.
Article 2 of the draft law stipulates that the system is aimed at protecting the privacy of the human and his dignity, his personal freedom, which the principles of Shariah have ensured, as well as the laws and regulations of the country, to prevent all forms and types harassment and extortion, and to punish offenders, and protect the victims.
Draft bill sets new measures against sexual harassment
Draft bill sets new measures against sexual harassment
