Saudi Arabia: authorities hunt for “rumors” on social networks

In Saudi Arabia, it is particularly on social networks that cases of harassment are reported.

AP - Martin Meissner

Text by: Nicolas Keraudren Follow

3 mins

In Saudi Arabia, the dissemination of "

" on social networks affecting "

" is a "

", punishable by five years in prison and a heavy fine.

This is the warning of the Saudi authorities following online claims, "

" they say, on cases of sexual harassment during an event in Riyadh on January 14th. 

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From our regional correspondent,

This is a case that caused a stir on Saudi social networks. On January 14, the famous K-Pop group Stray Kids was to perform in Riyadh. The concert was eventually canceled for weather reasons. But the spectators were already present on the site. Leaving the scene, reports of sexual harassment and even disappearances emerged in the top trends on Twitter with the hashtag #TristeConcert.

People who claim to have participated in this event, however, dismissed this information by posting them also tweets.

Just like the head of the Saudi entertainment authority who reacted immediately.

A few days later, on January 17, the Saudi prosecutor's office announced that it had summoned several people involved in the dissemination of these "

".

They risk five years in prison and more than 700,000 euros in fines.

The authorities also suggest that it would be a disinformation campaign waged on social networks against Saudi Arabia to damage its image.

Discourage women from speaking publicly 

According to some experts, this warning from the authorities could deter women from speaking publicly about sexual harassment.

It is still a taboo subject in Saudi Arabia even though an anti-harassment law was passed in May 2018.

Social networks are one of the rare spaces of freedom - admittedly controlled - but on which Saudi youth express themselves.

It is also there that the dissatisfaction of the population can be heard, in particular with regard to certain major reform projects in the kingdom.

In Saudi Arabia, there are around 28 million active social media users according to statistics from Global Media Insight, making the country of 35 million people one of the most connected in the world.

► To read also: 

And it is especially on social networks that cases of harassment are reported.

Two examples: last September during a National Day celebration, images and videos of harassed women spread widely on social networks.

The Saudi Interior Ministry tweeted a reminder of the anti-harassment law on this occasion.

Last December, cases were also reported during a concert in Riyadh even though the organizers had published a code of conduct to avoid these situations of harassment.

Since the launch of

- and finally since the social opening of the kingdom - we note this trend.

In recent years, concerts, like other entertainment for that matter, have multiplied in Saudi Arabia.

The separation of men and women is no longer required as it was before in the kingdom.

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