Introduction
Saudi police have arrested an expatriate suspected of filming a dead person in violation of the privacy protection law. This is the second such arrest reported in the kingdom in less than a month.
Details of the Incident
The Interior Ministry stated that police in the port city of Jeddah have detained an Indonesian resident for documenting and posting a video clip that violated privacy and breached the kingdom’s anti-cyber crime laws. The video, which circulated on social media, showed an expatriate filming a corpse being transferred into a hearse.
Previous Similar Incident
Last month, Saudi police arrested a Bangladeshi expatriate in Riyadh for filming and sharing a video of a shrouded dead person. The footage depicted the corpse inside a hospital, awaiting transfer to a morgue.
Legal Implications
Under Saudi law, taking pictures of others without permission is strictly prohibited. The offense is punishable by a fine of up to SR500,000 and imprisonment for a maximum of one year.
Recent Law Enforcement Actions
Saudi authorities have recently made several arrests related to law-breaking and violence:
- Traffic Obstruction: Last month, 11 expatriates were arrested in Riyadh for obstructing traffic and documenting it online. This included 10 Bangladeshis and one other suspect.
- Theft: In June, 14 expatriates, including 12 Pakistanis and 2 Afghan nationals, were arrested for stealing copper cables worth over SR8 million.
- Arson: In May, a Turkish resident was arrested in Mecca for arson after appearing in a video setting two parked cars on fire.
Conclusion
The recent arrests underscore the strict enforcement of privacy and anti-cyber crime laws in Saudi Arabia. Authorities continue to address violations with rigorous legal measures to maintain public order and safety.
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