Saudi Arabia

(File)

Saudi Arabia to hand out five-year jail sentences for “online satire”

The already-limited scope for freedom of speech in Saudi Arabia has taken another blow, as this latest “cybercrime” becomes law.

Saudi Arabia

(File)

Saudi Arabia will punish online satire that “disrupts public order” with up to five years in prison, the public prosecutor said Tuesday, as the kingdom cracks down on dissent.

The public prosecution tweeted late Monday:

“Producing and distributing content that ridicules, mocks, provokes and disrupts public order, religious values and public morals through social media … will be considered a cybercrime punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of three million riyals ($800,000).”

Why is online satire a crime in Saudi Arabia?

The kingdom’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has drawn harsh criticism from rights groups over the targeting of human rights activists and political dissidents across the spectrum since his appointment in June 2017.

Saudi Arabia’s legislation on cybercrime has sparked concern among international rights groups in the past. Dozens of Saudi citizens have been convicted on charges linked to dissent under a previous sweeping law, particularly linked to posts on Twitter.

In September 2017, authorities issued a public call for citizens to report on the social media activities of their fellow citizens, under a broad definition of “terrorist” crimes.

Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor on Tuesday also announced it was seeking the death penalty in the case against Sheikh Salman al-Awda, a prominent Islamist cleric arrested last year along with 20 others.

A backwards step for a “liberal” Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia took their first steps towards lifting the oppression of women in the Gulf State last year, when – for the first time in their history – women were legally allowed to drive.

However, this relatively “liberal” decision may be a marriage of convenience for Saudi Arabia. The government are looking to move away from their oil-reliant economy to prepare for a greener global future, and need to diversify their industries.

The change in driving laws will allow them to create more job opportunities and open more positions to women. Ones they previously couldn’t apply for.