Several students in the Eastern Province were punished for making insensitive jokes about terrorism, as also for using fellow students as their victims, say the education officials.

In a recent incident, students taped the hands, mouth and feet of a fellow student and left him in a supply room, according to the deputy director of a middle school in the region.

He said the students were all suspended and their parents were duly informed.

School director Abdulrahman Abdulkarim said such matters are not taken lightly and students are reprimanded for such behavior. There have also been incidents of other types of harmful pranks at schools, he was quoted as saying in a local publication recently.

“Two Arab students taped the slogan of a famous sports club on the back of another student without his knowledge, resulting in the victim becoming a butt of joke by fellow students.”

He said they also produced “offensive statements about criminal acts perpetrated by terrorist groups, which forced the school directors to expel them. An administrative decision was then issued to reduce the punishment by transferring them because of the upcoming year-end exams.”

“Although such jokes are banned at schools and subject to serious penalties such as expulsion, students tend not to take these warnings seriously.”

Saad Jabr, a student supervisor, said improper jokes, especially those copying terrorists, are strictly prohibited under the Education Ministry’s rules.

“We hold awareness sessions with students because such bad jokes can lead to students losing their certificates.” He said the ministry is informed of all incidents.

Mubarak Al-Asaimi, spokesman of the ministry, said student infringements are dealt with by teachers and supervisors, with punishment determined by the severity of the offense.