Minister of Interior Prince Muhammad bin Naif has decided that non-Saudis convicted of crimes and sentenced to prison terms of three months or longer and more than 40 lashes must be deported.
Religious violations, in particular, can lead to deportation. Minor social and religious violations, such as flirting or harassment, may be punishable by more than 40 lashes and possible deportation according to the judge's discretion. However, certain crimes can obligate the offender to write a pledge without being subject to legal action.
The Interior Ministry’s directives also include banning expatriates who have criminal records in other GCC countries from entry into the Kingdom. The violators of the country’s residency laws will be banned from entering the Kingdom for a period of three years for first-time violators and definitively for second-time violators.
In addition, second-time offenders of petty crimes will be deported.
“Most social law violations prescribe no clear quantum of punishment, much of it left to individual judge's discretion. However, there are known sanctions, such as those for alcohol users, which stipulate 80 lashes and deportation, and other crimes that obligate sentencing in accordance with the Islamic jurisprudence,” Mohammed Al-Tamimi, a lawyer, told Arab News.
However, many expats said that a foreigner can easily incur a punishment of 80 lashes and deportation for simply fighting with a Saudi or insulting him.
“There are no clear guidelines as to what constitutes a violation. As such, anyone can potentially find themselves getting deported,” Mustafa Al-Said, an Egyptian resident living in Jeddah, told Arab News.
Expatriates fear gray areas in law that can lead to deportation
