There was mixed reaction among residents in the Kingdom to a new rule dictating that men will be imprisoned if found guilty of harassing women in shopping centers. Coming just a month after Saudi Arabia relaxed severe restrictions on single men entering shopping centers, the new rule has come as a surprise to many in the Kingdom. Jamal Asaad (name changed), a 35-year-old managing director of a local company in Jeddah said he had a few concerns. “I have a few questions. ‘How will they classify harassment in malls? Why jail? Will we have a police system just to patrol single men and their behavior? And what about harassment on streets?' I don't understand why such a severe decision has been imposed.” Reports by local publications state that Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz, Emir of Riyadh, ordered authorities to punish those guilty of harassment in malls with five days in prison if it is a first-time offense. If the offender is caught again he will be jailed for 35 days and taken to court for the “appropriate” punishment. Salman Ahmad, a 23-year old college student in Jeddah said, “I feel like Big Brother is watching me. What if I am talking to a friend and a security officer thinks otherwise and imprisons me? This seems quite contradictory after finally allowing single men into malls.” “Up to five years in jail? I feel it is ludicrous. It is an indirect way of telling men to stay out of malls,” he added. Sarah Tariq, a 25-year old banker, believes the rule is too drastic in its conception. “Girls also ask and try to communicate with men, why are men only being singled out? Or is it not an offense if a girl does the same? It should be equal. Secondly why would you jail a young man for trying to get someone's number? We can have security get rid of them. Jail is too drastic.” Meanwhile Farid Farooq, a 44-year old father of two teenage girls living in Dahran, said he was disturbed by the controversy raked over the issue in international media. “We have many more important issues to deal with as a nation than jailing a young guy for trying to get a girl's number.” Having said that Farid feels that the new ruling is necessary and must also apply to the streets where women are even more in need of protection from harrassment. “I do not understand. I feel I am more exposed and vulnerable on the streets than in a closed, secure mall. If the issue here is to punish the shameless men, then we should have police on the streets. The Shabab (young males) are more prone to chasing and following girls on the roads. The rule should apply equally to the streets not just malls, where there is already much security,” Saad Al-Faris, a 30-year old car engineer working for a Japanese car company in Riyadh, said he welcomed the move. “I think it is about time someone took a serious step to address this issue. I have been in so many fights trying to protect my sisters and mother. We are a very private and secular type of society and we cannot tolerate such devious behavior. All of them should be locked up instantly to teach the others a lesson.” Zainab Ramzi, a 23-year-old medical student, also agreed with Saad. She said she is constantly chased by young men on a daily basis in her car with men trying to pass on their numbers and attempting to make conversation. __
