JEDDAH — Criminal courts in the Kingdom received 3,982 harassment and assault cases during the last 18 months, Al-Watan reported. A source from the Ministry of Justice reported that the cases were harassment and assault against women and children. “Riyadh region recorded 1,199 cases, Makkah region recorded 494 cases, the Eastern Province recorded 335 and Madinah recorded 275 cases. The source maintained that the country's judiciary does not clearly define what construes as harassment. As such, court verdicts are usually left for each judge to decide.” said the source. The Shoura Council, said a source, has previously submitted a proposal for a law against harassment. “The proposal envisages a minimum sentence of imprisonment and a SR100,000 fine for the harasser. The proposal also included specific sentences for workplace harassment,” said the source. He added that the proposal enlists penalties against the harassing employees and their employers. “Depending on the type and action of harassment, the harasser may face a minimum of six months and a maximum of a year in prison. The harasser would also be subjected to a fine of a minimum of SR20,000 and a maximum of SR50,000,” said the source. The source added the employer will also be subjected to a fine of a minimum of SR50,000 and a maximum of SR100,000. “The penalties double when the harasser or the employer involved are repeat offenders,” said the source.
