RIYADH, 20 July 2004 — Government and private institutions have begun confiscating cell phone cameras from people using them inside their premises, fearing that they might be used for illegal purposes.
According to a source in a private security firm at a Riyadh hospital, the move followed reports that shocked the Saudi society in the past few days when three youths were caught after they used a cell phone to photograph a girl being raped.
The source said that they received orders to confiscate any cell phone cameras used inside the hospital. A worker at the hospital said the use of ordinary cell phones in hospitals was banned in 1995 to prevent interference with hospital equipment.
Footage of the assault distributed on mobile phones and on the Internet provoked angry reactions and a state of outrage in the country, according Al-Hayat newspaper.
Deputy director of the National Human Rights Association Bandar Al-Hajjar said the government was intent on curbing all evil acts and punishing violators according to the Islamic law.
Cell phone cameras are banned in the Kingdom but they are still widely used. The Ministry of Commerce and other relevant departments are working on new measures to stop the practice.
