As the number of Saudis who have turned to modern devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptop computers has increased to record levels, a rise in a particular phenomenon has been observed and extensively reported on in the local media: blackmail. Al-Riyadh daily reports on how men are misusing modern technology to blackmail women out of money or into engaging in illicit sexual relationships. A seemingly innocent act like selling an old cell phone can prove to be costly for women if personal photos and videos are not deleted beforehand. Blackmailers often obtain such photos when they buy used phones and then threaten to publish them on social media websites unless the victim complies with the wishes of the blackmailer. Women who are being blackmailed often turn to the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) for help. Commission members posing as the victim agree to meet the blackmailer and then promptly arrest him.
Modern technology Dr. Muhammad Al-Omran, assistant professor of comparative Islamic jurisprudence, blamed the misuse of technology for the increase in the number of blackmail cases whose victims are mostly, if not all, women. “The Shariah imposes the harshest of punishments on blackmailers because of the serious social and psychological harm they cause to the victim and the dire consequences on the victim and her family. This is the reason why blackmail falls under the category of sizable offenses in the Kingdom,” Al-Omran said, noting that some girls easily fall prey to predators who take advantage of their vulnerability. “Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook have violated the privacy of girls who take pictures of themselves and post them online, not knowing that by posting their pictures online, they are jeopardizing their modesty and increasing their chances of falling victim to blackmailers. Women should not trust cell phone technicians and should ensure that any device they take to a store does not have their photos,” he added. Criminal offense Lawyer Zamil Al-Rakadh said blackmail is a serious crime that should be dealt with carefully and based on the facts available because sometimes women are not involved directly in the case. “Blackmail falls under immoral cases such as sexual harassment, rape, kidnapping, prostitution and pimping. The case is usually filed through the Haia, which then refers it to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution. After that, the case is referred to the relevant court where the blackmailer faces one year in prison or a SR500,000 fine or both,” he explained. Al-Rakadh said women were to blame in instances where they willingly engaged in illicit sexual relations with a man or trusted him with personal photos and said sometimes women, with their careless actions, contribute to the increase in the number of blackmail cases.
Naming and shaming On the topic of publicly naming and shaming blackmailers, lawyer Abdulaziz Al-Shabrami agreed that doing so would make other men think twice before they blackmail a woman, but he also warned that it may have a negative impact on the blackmailer's family and their standing in society.
Facing blackmail Dr. Al-Omran called on families to raise their children based on Islamic teachings and encourage them to be straightforward and never hide anything from their families. “Educational institutions, mosques and the media should educate girls about the dangers of blackmail and how to avoid it. A young woman who finds herself being blackmailed should understand that reporting it to the authorities would mitigate the negative impact on them,” he said. Turki Al-Shilayel, Haia president in Riyadh, urged blackmail victims not to succumb to the demands of their blackmailer. Instead, he said they should call the toll free number (0114908666) to report their blackmailer “We've dealt with cases where men were victims of blackmail and were used by women and cases where a woman was blackmailing another woman. We have a unit specifically set up to deal with blackmail cases,” Al-Shilayel said.
