ABHA, 13 January 2003 — Police in Asir investigated 13 young men between 18 and 23 accused of harassing families, especially girls, visiting the area. They were caught harassing families who were peacefully sitting on the beach. Local officials say that there is a constant problem with teenagers sneaking into restricted family areas. Last Thursday, police were called to one of the parks in Asir when teenagers started to harass families. The problem lasted for four hours before the police had everything under control. The police arrested seven suspects. In another incident, the police arrested six people who harassed visitors and lit fires. Police have detained the suspects’ cars until investigation is complete. The usual punishment for harassment varies from jail to lashes. Local families have pressured the police to impose tougher punishments and increase surveillance to prevent future incidents.
