Things you cannot do in Saudi Arabia
This list started with the typical list that you would find a tripadvisor.com. A quick search in google produced several records of activities, actions or things banned in Saudi Arabia. This list has grown 1-47 for most of the population and 48-77 for a woman.
1. Pork Products,
When traveling to Saudi Arabia, leave the bacon behind. In Islam, adherents are prohibited from consuming pork products and, because Islam is the dominant religion in Saudi, it's banned meat. Possession of pork can lead to legal problems, making it not worth the risk or trouble to take it into the country. This restriction goes for anything containing pork, be it a canned ham or even potato chips with pork flavoring, so if taking food to Saudi, ensure
The consumption of pork, false testimony and fortune telling are condemned by the Islamic faith and are punished according to ta'azir The final area where ta'azir punishments are implemented are for those acts which violate Islamic norms
2. Alcohol
Like pork, alcohol is also forbidden in Islamic teachings and, therefore, throughout the country of Saudi Arabia. Even small amounts for personal consumption are illegal, so make sure a tiny bottle of liquor isn't hiding in your suitcase. If caught with alcohol, the punishment may be severe, even if it was brought into the country accidentally. According to the British Embassy in Riyadh, those charged with possessing alcohol may be fined, jailed or lashed.
People who have previously been caught with alcohol in their possession have been sentenced to lashes as well as a prison sentence. Deportation is sometimes also part of the package but isn’t necessarily always the case.
The punishment for selling alcohol is higher than just having it in your possession, but if you are caught selling alcohol to Saudi nationals, you can get sentenced 500 lashes, if not more.
Expats who are caught transporting alcohol faces the same punishment as mentioned above. They are however not as tough on Saudi nationals. If a local is found with alcohol in their possession, it is often just confiscated by the police, after which the national is free to go.
Karl Andree, 74, was arrested by Saudi religious police and has spent more than a year in prison - it had been reported that he was also facing 360 lashes, but it has since emerged that he was going to be spared flogging because of his age and ill-health.
Four Britons have been sentenced to up to 500 lashes each after being found guilty of illegally trading alcohol in Saudi Arabia.
3. Bringing liqueur chocolates into the country
In September 1999, a Filipino man named Faustino Salazar was arrested on arrival at King Khaled airport in Riyadh for possessing two chocolate bars containing alcohol.
He said he had bought the sweets at a duty-free shop during a stopover in Bahrain and wasn’t aware of their alcoholic content. He was nonetheless sentenced to four months in jail and 75 lashes.
4. Drugs use and drug dealers
Roughly half (47 percent) of people executed in Saudi Arabia are killed for drug-related offenses, according to Amnesty International. From August 2014 to August 2015, Amnesty documented 175 Saudi executions, an average of one every two days.
Saudi Arabia has executed 48 people since the beginning of 2018, half of them for nonviolent drug crimes, Human Rights Watch said today. Many more people convicted of drug crimes remain on death row following convictions by Saudi Arabia’s notoriously unfair criminal justice system.
Saudi Arabia has carried out nearly 600 executions since the beginning of 2014, over 200 of them in drug cases. The vast majority of the remainder were for murder, but other offenses included rape, incest, terrorism, and “sorcery.”
5. All drugs are illegal, and drug dealers get the death penalty (beheading)
Roughly half (47 percent) of people executed in Saudi Arabia are killed for drug-related offenses, according to Amnesty International. From August 2014 to August 2015, Amnesty documented 175 Saudi executions, an average of one every two days.
6. Illegal Drugs
Roughly half (47 percent) of people executed in Saudi Arabia are killed for drug-related offenses, according to Amnesty International. From August 2014 to August 2015, Amnesty documented 175 Saudi executions, an average of one every two days.
All drugs are illegal, and drug dealers get the death penalty (beheading)
7. Movie Theaters
Cannot go to the movie theaters yet (theaters have been approved and are under construction). The Science museum in Dammam has an Imax theater that shows short movies during the day. There are many multi-screen movie theaters in Bahrain.
For the last 35 years, movie theaters have been banned in Saudi Arabia. That changed on Monday when Saudi Arabia announced it would allow cinemas to open as early as March 2018.
8. Dress Code Saudi Arabia
In some places, a man cannot wear shorts or tank tops, such as the mosque or some malls.
One passenger attempted to board a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight departing from Jakarta last week; he was told at the last minute that he would not be allowed to board because he was wearing shorts.
RIYADH: The authorities in Saudi Arabia has deported a man for appearing in shorts in the women’s room of a fitness club.
Most people know that women are required to wear an abaya when out in public but what isn’t focused on as much is that men also need to be appropriately dressed. Men aren’t allowed to show their knees or shoulders in public, and skinny jeans are best avoided. You are also not allowed to show any symbols from religions other than Islam openly
9. Scuba Diving in Saudi Arabia
Cannot go scuba diving unless you register with the government.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries issues the Saudi Dive permit
The laws of Saudi Arabia must be followed including restrictions on alcohol, clothing, and public behavior. Women must wear head coverings and should wear an abaya (some leniency to this is given at the beach and on dive boats.) Women and men can only travel together if they are married (with proper paperwork) or with part of an organized group. Women going alone may be hassled.
Scuba divers binding duties and responsibilities:
The diver must present his driving license when requested by the responsible authorities.
The diver shall abide by all rules, regulations, and orders issued by Border Guard and to comply with any law passed by the members Border Guard patrols.
The alpha flag must be displayed whenever divers are operating from the marine craft for personal safety.
The diver is fully responsible for the efficiency of his diving equipment for his safety.
The diver is fully responsible for any damages or loss to persons, properties or the environment caused by the usage of fishing gear and diving equipment.
The license shall be renewed in the due date and time indicated by the Ministry of Agriculture and water.
It is essential once discovering contraband items or when detecting any historical underwater debris to contact, inform and report Border Guard or any entity in charge of policing and surveillance.
Immediate notification and reporting about any breach made by other drivers or marine crafts for the rules and regulation issued by Border Guard or issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and water.
10. Things scuba divers should never do Saudi Arabia
The diver should not break–off corals or pick up Seashells to keep it as a souvenir.
It’s prohibited lifting and salvaging historic underwater debris
It’s not permitted to practice solo diving, for personal safety.
It is prohibited to practice scuba diving in restricted areas, in harbors, nearby defense installations, necessary maritime facilities, royal palaces or places determined and specified by Border Guard.
11. Car ownership in Saudi Arabia
A lesser known fact is that anyone in the Kingdom can own not all cars. Pick-up trucks are considered to be vehicles used for commercial purposes and are only allowed to be owned by Saudi nationals. Vehicles that hold more than five passengers are considered “family” vehicles and are only allowed to be owned by families. To buy a family car, the buyer has to produce a letter from his employer that states his family affairs.
Some documents are required when purchasing a car. The main ones are a letter from the Saudi sponsor or employer. Most employers are accustomed to such notes and know the correct format of them. If the company is not a government entity, the message must be attested by the Chamber of Commerce. If the vehicle is a family vehicle, the letter must state the employee’s family status. Proof of insurance is also a must and must be shown when closing the deal. Your iqamas of the purchases and if a family car, the family iqamas.
12. Flat, villa or apartment rental
Any foreigner who wishes to rent property in Saudi Arabia requires an Iqama (residence permit). Expats may also be required to provide a letter from their employer confirming their salary and length of the contract. In some cases, the employer may need to act as a guarantor.
If you an in Saudi Arabia on a Commercial Visit Visa, you cannot lease a car, buy a car, rent property, own a cell phone monthly contract, own an internet monthly account or open a bank account.
13. Cannot apply for a driver license unless you have Iqama.
If you hold a driver’s license from the United States, the United Kingdom, or/an International License, then you are exempted from having to do a driving license conversion. You will be fully permitted to drive, obtain an automobile, and purchase the mandatory car insurance if you have an iqama.
http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-saudi-arabia-driving
You can drive for up to three months in Saudi Arabia on the license from your home country or on an international license. After this time, you are required to have a Saudi driving license. Some licenses, including those from the UK and US, are convertible to a Saudi license without a driving test.
14. Car Rental
Can only rent a car on a daily rate and not more than 30 days at a time when you have a Business Visa. Age Requirement
To drive in Saudi Arabia, a valid driver's license from country of residence is required. An International driver's license is highly recommended for anyone to live outside Saudi Arabia as some car rental company will need international drivers to present an IDP. Driving licenses printed with non-Roman Alphabet must present an IDP together with the original driver’s license.
Minimum age to rent a car in Saudi Arabia is 25 years (for some company is 23). If you're under 25, you are likely to have to pay a young driver fee. If you're 65 or older, you may have to pay a senior driver fee.
15. Hotel rental
Saudi women can now book a hotel room and stay there without requiring a man to accompany her or give permission, opening doors for greater mobility for the fairer sex in a country known for its ultra-conservatism.
Islamic law prohibits unmarried couples from living together. The same rule applies to share a hotel room. In theory, hotels should also not call you a cab or help you book a tour in which you will be alone with your partner. This is based on the Tawajed clause, which states that people of opposite sex cannot be alone together unless they're married or are family.
Unmarried couples may not (legally) live together in Saudi Arabia. Even unmarried couples may not travel in the same car. Police often stop vehicles and will arrest both the male and female passengers if they are not related, i.e., husband/wife; brother/sister; daughter/father, etc.
Hotels will not allow couples to share a room unless they can show they are married.
Breaking this law may result in fines/imprisonment/deportation.
RIYADH: The police, along with members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Haia), arrested an unrelated couple who were traveling in a car.
Riyadh police spokesman, Col. Fawaz Al-Maiman, explained that the couple attracted the attention of the police since the woman was not appropriately dressed according to the local regulations. She was not wearing an abaya, and her face was overly made-up which attracted the attention of passersby.
According to local law, an unrelated man and woman must not be together. Such behavior can be prosecuted, and if those guilty are expatriates, they can be deported.
Can only rent a hotel room at a daily rate for 30 days at a time (monthly rate)
16. Celebrating Valentine Day
Valentine’s day is not part of the Islam religion and might lead people astray; therefore it is banned in Saudi. People are not allowed to wear anything red on Valentine’s day, and shops aren’t allowed to sell red flowers or heart-shaped objects. The other reason for this is to discourage dating and relationships outside of marriage.
17. Celebrating your birthday
Officially, celebrating religious or your birthdays is banned in Saudi Arabia. The ban on birthdays “is in line with the strict interpretation of Islam followed by the conservative Wahhabi sect adhered to in the kingdom,” says the LA Times. All Christian and even most Muslim feasts are also prohibited because they are considered alien customs the Saudi clerics don't sanction.
Al Hamdulilah! My daughter just turned four this week. I wanted to celebrate it with her and invite a few of her friends (Muslim) over. I was told by one of the parent’s that no one would come because no other parents allow their children to celebrate birthdays. We are new to this masjid, and I didn’t realize that this was a major faux pas. I do understand their position. If they tell their children that “Muslims don’t celebrate birthdays” and then the kids come to my daughter’s birthday, they will wonder why she gets to celebrate and they don’t. So, I support their position. Consistency is vital.
However, I wonder, why don’t Muslims celebrate birthdays? The only two answers I ever get are: It is not part of our religion, and The Prophet (saws) didn’t do it. I agree that it is not part of the faith. It is a cultural thing. But the religion doesn’t forbid cultural practices as long as they don’t conflict with Islamic principles. Isn’t that why the Prophet (saws) told Ayesha that she should have encouraged that tribe to beat the duff at their walima, because it was part of their tribal/cultural practice?
18. Filipino migrant women arrested at a Halloween party
30 Nov 2018 http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Filipino-migrant-women-arrested-at-a-Halloween-party-45350.html
Riyadh (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Saudi authorities arrested 17 Filipino migrant women for participating in a Halloween party, the Philippines Foreign Ministry has reported.
Saudi intelligence officers arrested the women when they raided a compound in the Saudi capital last Friday, following complaints from neighbors over the noise.
Upon arrival, the officers found the women were holding a party dedicated to Halloween, which falls tomorrow, an ancient Celtic tradition that is popular in English-speaking countries but also in other parts of the world.
19. Talking openly about sex,
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — A young airline ticket agent who scandalized Saudi Arabia’s ultraconservative society by bragging about his sexual prowess on television was sentenced today to five years in prison and 1,000 lashes.
20. Gender Segregation
Gender segregation is one of the most basic principles of the lives of women in Saudi Arabia that helps them avoid contact with unknown men. It means that the society is split into female and male parts not only at home but also in public places like on beaches, in transport, and even in restaurants. This rule is especially strict in places where people eat. There are parts for family members, for bachelors, and unmarried women.
In stores, some sections are restricted for family only. These areas are usually for lingerie, bras, panties, swimwear, shapewear, or makeup and a husband can shop in the presence of his wife.
Bachelors dining in the Family Section of a food establishment
A man alone? Or part of an all-male group? Then the door for you is the one marked “singles entrance.”
The other door, labeled “family entrance,” is for everyone else: A woman on her own, a group of women, a married couple, or parents with children.
The family section is only for families. Single men need to eat in the men’s only part of the restaurant. Some restaurants might allow women to eat by themselves in the family section, although this is mostly frowned upon. Most restaurants will only serve food to women ordering alone as takeaway and not allow them to eat it by themselves in the restaurant.
Women of the country are not allowed to maintain extensive interaction with men. Saudi Arabia implies a rigorous implementation of Islam, and therefore the sexes have been segregated. Women are required to limit their interaction with the men to whom they are not related. There are separate entrances for women and men in buildings, offices, banks, and even universities. In most parts of the country the public amusement parks, beaches and the transportation used by the public are also segregated. Unlawful mixing shall lead to criminal charges for both the sexes but women will always have to face the harsher punishment.
The mingling of males and females is not allowed and is considered immoral by the laws of the country; hence there are separate family sections made in the restaurants where families can have food and enjoy their quality time. But no woman is allowed to go to a restaurant alone that doesn’t have a women’s section or a separate family section. Due to the strict implementations of the laws, they are supposed to be with their sponsors and are not allowed to leave the house without them. Women are also required to use a separate entrance in some restaurants and sit where there is a family section made with a divider.
Man arrested in Saudi Arabia … for having breakfast with woman
11 Sept 2018
“The labor ministry arrested an expatriate in Jeddah after he appeared in an offensive video,” said the ministry’s statement, which was published on Sunday. Local media identified the man as Egyptian, saying that the video was shot in the lobby of the hotel where both the man and woman work.
“Come have breakfast with us,” the man, identified in the local media reports by a single name, Bahaa, says during the video. The video also shows the woman feeding him a piece of food.
The following day, it released another statement warning that people face up to five years in prison for producing, posting online, sending or saving materials that “violate public order, religious values, public morality, or the sanctity of personal life.”
21. Music Lessons in Schools
Saudi Arabia has an active music industry, but you won’t hear any music played in malls, department stores, and grocery stores for the most part. Also, music classes are not allowed in public schools, because music is considered forbidden since school curricula must follow the rules of Islam (Don't expect many opportunities to teach music in Saudi Arabia to pop up!). Despite this, rock bands and music enthusiasts still find ways to express their passion for music, away from the public eye. If you have a passion for music, you may have to dig a little deeper to find those who share your interests.
Saudi Arabia has an active music industry, but no one will ever see any musical instrument be ing played at a mall or department stores or even in public schools. Music lessons are forbidden and illegal in public forums, and a person will have to dig a little deeper to find someone who has the same passion for music as theirs. If a child wants to learn any such musical instrument, then own tutorials should be taken, pursuing music publicly should be avoided at all costs. As is the case with every country, some rules are always broken, and rock bands and people passionate about music still find their ways, but those too away from the public eye.
22. Only Muslims are allowed to visit the holy city
Do you know that in the Holy City of Mecca, only Muslims are allowed? Non-Muslims may not enter or travel through Mecca and attempting to enter Mecca as a non-Muslim can result in penalties such as a fine or deportation from Saudi Arabia. However, in Medina, both Muslims and Non-Muslims are allowed. The exception is non-Muslims entering Nabawi Square, where the Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi is located.
23. Practicing any Religion other than Islam in public against the law.
Somewhat contrary to popular belief, Saudi Arabia does allow people to follow their own, and there is a wide variety of religions in the country. They do however have an issue with it if you practice your religion in public if it isn’t Islam and it is also forbidden to try and convert someone to your faith.
Cannot go to church, or synagogue or celebrate your Christen religion. In Bahrain you can, there is a sizeable Catholic group of 20,000 and two churches.
Saudi Arabia is considered to be the birthplace of Islam, and therefore it is the country’s official religion. The local people practice this religion and are taught to do so since birth. Therefore, Saudi people cannot even think of practicing any religion other than Islam. As a result of strict adherence having or carrying items that belong to any other religion is not allowed. It is against the country’s laws and is considered illegal for non-Muslims to worship in public. There is no church/synagogue found in the country, and if one tries to switch or convert his or her religion, then there is no less penalty than a death sentence.
24. Smoking in public areas
Smoking is strictly prohibited in many open spaces, including religious, educational, health, social and cultural institutions, as well as in workplaces, government offices, factories, banks, and public transportation. This includes the smoking of shishas. Smoking in a prohibited area will result in an SR200 fine or more and the money gathered is to be allocated to awareness campaigns and charities related to the cause.
25. PROHIBITED ITEMS ACCORDING TO SAUDI CUSTOMS
Christmas trees, crosses, crucifixes, stars of David or any other items associated with religions other than the Muslim faith. *Bibles are allowed for personal use only, i.e., one Bible per person. Read this post about Christmas trees on the black market in Saudi Arabia: Black Market Christmas tree
All types of statues or objects of human or animal form which might be used for religious purposes and worship such as Buddha figurines, religious carvings, altars, etc. *Does not include kids toys such as stuffed animals, dolls.
26. During Ramadan, do not eat or drink or smoke in public
https://www.arabianbusiness.com/-warning-for-non-muslims-caught-eating-in-public-during-ramadan--409549.html The Holy Month of Ramadan is expected to start this year on August 1, with all Muslim adults expected to observe a fasting period during daylight hours, while non-Muslims must refrain from eating or drinking in public.
Those flouting the law can be fined up to AED 2,000 or face jail time, and Al Jallaf said the law was evident on the matter.
“The law does not allow anybody to eat during the day in public in Ramadan. We should obey this to respect the culture and the Islamic people.
And bad news for expats, they would be deported back to their home countries after serving jail time for ‘breaking fast in public’! Although other GCC states are more ‘liberal’ than Saudi Arabia yet one cannot eat or drink in public during Ramadan. Foreigners have been arrested for ‘breaking fast’ in Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates strictly forbids anyone to eat/drink during daylight in Ramadan.
If you’re a non-Muslim or even a ‘secular Muslim’ who chooses not to fast, then Saudi Arabia is the worst country to live in during Ramadan. The ‘holiest’ Muslim country has the strictest law that prohibits anyone to eat/drink in public in daylight during ‘holy’ Ramadan. There’s no exemption for Non-Muslims under any circumstances. Mutawa, the religious police in Mecca keep looking for the violators and immediately arrest them for this ‘crime.’
27. Eat and drink in public:
Note that chewing gum constitutes as eating. It is considered disrespectful to eat during fasting hours and can lead to severe disciplinary action.
28. Smoking:
During Ramadan, smoking in public is not allowed until after the Maghreb prayer at sunset, and in Saudi Arabia, there will be few places that allow smoking during the month.
29. Public displays of affection:
This is the same as other times of the year, but especially during Ramadan, avoid public acts of affection.
30. Play loud music:
For foreigners experiencing Ramadan for the first time, it is important to stay respectful to those fasting. During Ramadan, it is generally best to refrain from listening to music loudly. It may offend those who are fasting. However, it is acceptable to listen to music on your smartphone or iPod with the aid of headphones.
31. LGBT
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Saudi Arabia face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents, and Saudi Arabia is considered to have one of the worst LGBT rights records in the world. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal. The government of Saudi Arabia does not recognize LGBT rights. The Saudi social mores and laws are heavily influenced by Arab tribal customs and ultra-conservative Wahhabi Islam. Homosexuality and being transgender are widely seen as immoral and indecent activities, and the law punishes acts of homosexuality or cross-dressing with punishments ranging from fines, floggings, to life in prison, death, and torture
Saudi Arabia: Under the country’s interpretation of sharia law, a married man engaging in sodomy or any non-Muslim who commits sodomy with a Muslim can be stoned to death. All sex outside of marriage is illegal.
Like elsewhere in the world, the transgender community is the most visible target. On 1 March 2017, two transgender Pakistanis – Amna and Meeno – were tortured to death in Saudi Arabia, after being packed in sacks and then thrashed with sticks. They were among 35 people arrested when police officers raided a rented hall. Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that Meeno’s family was shocked when they saw the signs of torture on her body.
32. Being gay
Homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia and punished with prison sentences, fines, whippings, chemical castrations, and even the death penalty.
In July 2014, a court there jailed a 24-year-old man for three years and sentenced him to 450 lashes for arranging a date with a man on Twitter.
Men have also been flogged for attending "gay weddings," even though gay marriage isn't legally recognized in the country.
33. PDA, Public display of affection
This one you most probably also guessed – any public display of affection is strictly forbidden and seen as haram (forbidden). Yes, this includes holding hands as well. Even if you are married, although the penalty will be considerably more severe if you are caught holding hands if you aren’t married. Do not cuss in public, do not talk about your religion in general, do not talk about the Muslim faith in public, do not talk about the government in society. 2100 lashes seven years in jail
34. Photographs of people in Public
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/media/digital/2015/02/07/The-downside-of-street-photography-in-Saudi-Arabia.htmlFor example, Article 3 of the law sets a penalty of one-year imprisonment or a fine that does not exceed SR500,000 ($133,246) for anyone who uses a cell phone to take a picture that violates the privacy rights of others and then posts the image on social media websites.
35. Do not take photos of a government building, or militarily facilities or Mosques or palaces.
We’re sorry photographers! Snapping a couple of innocent pictures of all the beautiful government buildings, military installations, and palaces in Saudi will get you in jail. A law has been put in place making it illegal to take pictures of these buildings due to privacy and security concerns.
Taking photographs of beautiful buildings is so commonplace all over the world that most people will be shocked when they’re reprimanded for the same in Saudi Arabia. The government has forbidden taking pictures of government buildings, palaces, and military installments, making it not so easy for photographers whose specialty lies in landscape photography. One might face severe problems while taking regular holiday pictures of family and friends in front of any place significant anywhere in the country. Also, one must avoid photographing local men without their permission. Taking photographs of local women is strictly prohibited and is penalized. The reasons behind these harsh regulations are complicated but deep-seated in Saudi culture. There’s also a fear that pictures of women could end up online and might sully the reputation of their family or could be used by men for blackmailing them, a practice common in Asian countries.
36. NO Porn allowed
No Porn is permitted, no adult toys, cannot bring into the state cannot buy in Saudi Arabia. Saudi internet is restricted so most porn sites cannot be seen. If you have a VPN, then you can surf the adult sites but having porn is it is illegal. Having porn on your phone, tablet or computer could land you in seriously hot water if you touched down in Saudi Arabia. Even illustrations of scantily dressed people, especially women, is banned. If caught with porn, deportation.
Guess what? Customs officials can and will scan your phone for any pictures they deem to be inappropriate and then confiscate your equipment.
All Pornographic material such as books, DVD’s, magazines, etc. *Women’s Fashion magazines with images of models in revealing clothing might be confiscated.
37. Traffic Rules
Obey the traffic laws, watch out for speed camera and intersection cameras.
The new violations start at SAR100-150 ($27-40) for leaving a vehicle with its engine running, not possessing insurance, crossing roads in areas unspecified for pedestrians and failing to give way to pedestrians at crossings.
Motorists will be charged SAR150-300 ($39.97-$79.95) for not using indicators while changing lanes, reversing for more than 20m on main roads, not holding a license, excessive use of their car horn, not taking their vehicle for maintenance, not wearing a seatbelt, failing to leave sufficient distance between vehicles and crowding at the scene of accidents.
Other crimes include SAR300-500 ($79.95-$133.25) for littering, not focusing on driving, holding an expired license and not using a child seat and SAR500-900 for following emergency vehicles using a siren, not stopping at traffic signals, writing slogans or putting stickers on cars and tinting windows beyond specified limits.
Drivers can also be fined SAR1,000-2,000 ($266.50-$522.99) for not having a number plate or using a damaged late, carrying more passengers than specified in the registration, not using lights when driving at night and gathering at joy riding areas.
Fines increase to SAR3,000-6000 ($799.48-$1598.96) for skipping a traffic signal, overtaking buses when students are disembarking and driving on the wrong side of the road and SAR5,000-10,000 ($1332.46-$2664.93) for driving using another car’s number plate or erasing or concealing the number plate.
Traffic accidents are prevalent in Saudi Arabia as the standard of driving is quite poor. Moreover, many cars are uninsured as there is no legal requirement to insure vehicles. If an accident occurs in which someone is injured, it is the usual practice for everyone involved to be taken to the local police station while responsibility is determined. Under Islamic law blood money of up to SR 100,000 can be imposed for injuries, so it is essential to take out insurance to cover this. If the police hold you, you should contact your Embassy or consulate. Speed detection devices are in use in the country, and there are standard fines for exceeding the speed limits of 45kph in urban areas and 80 to 120kph on motorways. There are automatic jail sentences, or corporal punishment, for some driving offenses.
38. Insulting Islam through electronic channels
In 2014, Saudi blogger Raif Badawi was imprisoned and sentenced to 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam through electronic channels."
He was due to receive the lashes over 20 weeks and was given the first set of 50 on 9 January.
Footage that emerged of that flogging showed Mr. Badawi standing in a white shirt as he was beaten across the back with a stick.
Spending time with the opposite sex
In 2006, two men and a 75-year-old woman were sentenced to flogging for "moral crimes." They'd met members of the opposite sex who weren't "close relatives."
During their trial, the men claimed they had been delivering bread to Khamisa Mohammed Sawadi.
One also argued he was related to Khamisa, who had breast-fed him as a child.
The court rejected their arguments, sentencing Khamisa and one of the men to 40 lashes and four months in prison - the other to 60 lashes and six months in jail.
39. Adultery
A 19-year-old woman known as the "al-Qatif Girl" was with a male friend when she was attacked and gang-raped by seven men.
The pair later received a six-month prison sentence and 200 lashes each, with authorities claiming the woman confessed to having an affair.
Her lawyer had his legal license temporarily removed after criticizing the teenager's treatment at the hands of judges.
A woman faces being stoned to death after being convicted of adultery in Saudi Arabia - while the man she was caught with faces 100 lashes.
The married 45-year-old woman, originally from Sri Lanka, was working as a maid in Riyadh and was convicted of adultery in August.
But her partner, who was single and also from Sri Lanka, was given a punishment of 100 lashes after being found guilty of the same offense.
Saudi authorities have reduced a Sri Lankan maid's sentence for adultery from death by stoning to a three-year jail term after an appeal, Colombo's foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
40. Pestering girls
In 2000, it was reported that teenage boys in Saudi Arabia who "pestered" schoolgirls faced public floggings and possible prison terms.
A group of teenage boys faced public floggings and possible prison terms for loitering outside girls’ schools and “pestering” members of the opposite sex, 1000 lashes
41. The attack on a Police Officer
JEDDAH — Seven men were lashed at a public square in Jeddah on Friday after a criminal court convicted them of assaulting a traffic officer on duty and a security guard who came to his aid at Al-Hamra Corniche in southwest Jeddah about a year and a half ago.
The court sentenced the men — a young Saudi aged 18 years, a Nigerian, two Yemenis, and three undocumented Chadian residents — to 1,500 lashes each and a total of 80 years in prison.
42. Dabbing
Dabbing may seem like just an innocent dance move; it does have a darker meaning behind it.
The dabbing dance move is an internet craze which was made famous by American footballer Cam Newton.
The expression is also a term for smoking butane hash oil and extracting 90 percent of the THC (the primary ingredient in marijuana).
Some have said the dance move is supposed to represent sneezing, something that often happens to people when they’ve taken a lot of cannabis.
Why is dabbing forbidden in Saudi Arabia?
KSA has two holy shrines Mecca and Medina. Over 24 million people visited for Pilgrimage in 2016, while KSA population is 33 million (2017 ).
Saudi Arabia is also the home of Prophet Mohammed. The country has to maintain sanity and purity and lead by example though babbling may be accepted publicly in western nations due to its ‘assumed meaning’ its looked down upon.
Dabbing may be an ‘in’ or ‘cool’ thing with Western society as seen on media, but surely it may not receive acceptance in churches and synagogues.
We underhand and appreciate times are changing, and adults need to lead by example, so the next generation is focused on the wellbeing of humanity. Acts of dabbing do not carry any useful message.
Dabbing faced scrutiny from law enforcement officials in Saudi Arabia after becoming popularized in American hip-hop nearly two years ago. The National Commission for Combatting Drugs later banned the dance move—which involves someone nodding their head toward one of their folded elbows with both arms pointed in the same direction—after determining it emphasizes drugs in everyday music culture.
But Saharawi’s fan base overwhelmingly supported the singer after his apparent improvised dance over the weekend, while many avoided directly endorsing the taboo move.
“We will be with you in all of your sadness and joy,” one Twitter user wrote. “This was just a spontaneous move, he has since apologized to the country’s people and government, and you’re still holding it against him?” wrote another.
43. Music in public places
While the music in itself is legal in Saudi Arabia, playing music in public is forbidden. You won’t find music blasting through speakers in malls. Music classes are also not offered at public schools for Saudis either. While there are many musicians in Saudi Arabia, most of them tend to stay underground, away from the eyes of the religious police, as performing publically would be a risk.
Jan 19, 2018, https://abcnews.go.com/International/reporters-notebook-saudi-arabia-tune-music-public/story?id=52462747
A rap concert was the last thing I expected to see in Saudi Arabia.
After all, this is a country so conservative, so puritanical in its official interpretation of Islam, which for decades there was almost no music played in public at all. Not in stadiums or theaters. Not in restaurants or malls. Not in elevators.
But on the outskirts of Riyadh, at an amusement park on the edge of the desert, there it was: rap music. It’s all part of the sweeping changes being unleashed in Saudi Arabia by the 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (“MbS” as everyone calls him).
44. Witchcraft
In 2007, Egyptian pharmacist Mustafa Ibrahim was beheaded in Riyadh after his conviction on charges of "practicing magic and sorcery as well as adultery and desecration of the Holy Quran." The charges of "magic and sorcery" are not euphemisms for some other kind of egregious crime he committed; they alone were enough to qualify him for a death sentence.
In May 2013, two Asian maids were sentenced to 1,000 lashings and ten years in prison after their bosses claimed that they had suffered from their magic. Just a few weeks ago, Saudi newspapers began running the image of an Indonesian maid being pursued on accusations that she produced a spell that made her male boss's family subject to fainting and epileptic fits.
Muree bin Ali bin Issa al-Asiri, who was found in possession of talismans, was executed in the southern Najran province in June 2012. A Saudi woman, Amina bin Salem Nasser,[31] was executed for being convicted of practicing sorcery and witchcraft in December 2011 in the northern province of Jawf, and a Sudanese man (Abdul Hamid Bin Hussain Bin Moustafa al-Fakki) was executed in a car park in Medina for the same reason in September 20, 2011. In 2014, Mohammed bin Bakr al-Alawi was beheaded on 5 August for allegedly practicing black magic sorcery[.
45. Criticizing the Koran
Several news sites are reporting that a Saudi Arabia court has sentenced a man to 10 years in prison, along with a punishment of 2,000 lashes, for several messages on his Twitter account that denied the existence of God and criticized the Koran, the Islamic holy book.
Under Sharia, those who insult Muhammad or Allah are to be executed. So are those who desecrate the Quran or commit other acts of blasphemy.
When author Salman Rushdie published "The Satanic Verses," a 1988 novel deemed offensive to Muhammad, Ayatollah Khomeini pronounced a death sentence in the form of a fatwa that was supported by a majority of Muslims.
After a Danish newspaper published cartoons of Muhammad in 2006, an imam (who had been welcomed to Denmark as an immigrant), traveled back to the Middle East and stirred up hatred that resulted in deadly rioting on three continents. Demonstrators in London held signs reading "Massacre Those Who Insult Islam."
In 2015, they did. That January, two devout Muslims forced their way into the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris and shot a dozen innocent people to death in the name of Allah. Hebdo is a satirical magazine known for irreverent criticism of all religions, including Islam. According to witnesses, the gunmen shouted, "We have avenged the prophet Muhammad."
46. Role in Woman's Conversion to Christianity
Two men accused of helping a young woman flee Saudi Arabia after her conversion to Christianity were sentenced to prison terms and lashes with a whip by a Saudi court last week, International Christian Concern reports. The case comes weeks after an independent U.S. government advisory body listed Saudi Arabia among the top violators of religious freedom. A Lebanese Christian man was sentenced to six years in prison, and 300 lashes and a Saudi man was sentenced to two years and 200 lashes by a court in Khobar for their involvement in a Saudi woman's conversion to Christianity and her escape abroad.
This is the shocking moment a Saudi Arabian blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes for ‘insulting Islam’ was publicly flogged in front of hundreds of ‘cheering’ crowds. Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2017/09/01/crowd-cheer-like-theyre-at-a-beach-party-as-saudi-blogger-is-lashed-50-times-6894851/?ito=cbshare
47. Christianity is illegal in Saudi Arabia.
https://acnuk.org/saudi-arabia/
Saudi is still one of the most dangerous countries on earth in which to follow Christ. Today… converting to another faith is punishable by death. Christians face arrest, imprisonment, lashing, deportation and, in some cases, torture.”
The crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, has declared his intention of returning the country to a 'moderate Islam.' In a significant interview for the Guardian, he's said the conservative state has been 'not normal' for the last 30 years and blamed the religious reactionary spirit on the Iranian revolution.
Now, he says: 'We are simply reverting to what we followed – a moderate Islam open to the world and all religions. Seventy per cent of the Saudis are younger than 30; honestly, we won't waste 30 years of our life combating extremist thoughts, we will destroy them now and immediately.'
If bin Salman can carry out his reformist plans, there's plenty that religious rights campaigners will want to see change. According to the US State Department:
1. Freedom of religion is 'neither recognized nor protected under the law and is severely restricted in practice.' The public practice of any religion other than Islam is banned. It is Basic Law provides that the Qur'an and Sunna (the traditions of the Prophet Mohammad) serve as the constitution.
2. The law criminalizes 'the promotion of atheistic ideologies in any form', 'any attempt to cast doubt on the fundamentals of Islam', publications that 'contradict the provisions of Islamic law' and other acts deemed contrary to sharia, including non-Islamic public worship, public display of non-Islamic religious symbols, conversion by a Muslim to another religion, and proselytizing by a non-Muslim.
3. Foreigners who participate in non-Muslim worship can be harassed, detained, arrested and deported.
4. Shia Islam can be practiced, but Shias faced discrimination at multiple levels in the Sunni country.
5. Conversion is illegal and is grounds for the charge of apostasy, a crime punishable by death, though in practice the death penalty has not been carried out in recent years.
6. Blasphemy against Islam is also punishable by death.
7. Criticism of Islam is forbidden on the grounds of preserving social stability.
8. The calculation of compensation for accidental death or injury differs according to the religious affiliation of the plaintiff. A Jewish or Christian male is entitled to receive only 50 percent of the compensation a Muslim male would receive; all other non-Muslims are entitled to receive one-sixteenth the amount a male Muslim would receive.
Furthermore, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, otherwise known as the “religious police,” places restrictions on forms of expression including dress, religious emblems, and art in Saudi Arabia. The Commission requires all individuals in Saudi Arabia to “abide by its interpretation of Islam’s rules and its prophet’s directives.” In 2016, religious police raided the homes of, arrested and deported 27 Christians holding a religious prayer service because non-Muslim church services, including home prayer and Bible reading, are illegal in Saudi Arabia.
48. Leaving the house without your Iqama (Residence Permit) in your possession
27 November 2013 http://www.arabnews.com/news/483756
Expats who fail to carry their resident permits (iqamas) will be fined SR1,000 ($266.50) first time and SR2,000 ($532.99) and SR3,000 ($799.48) if they are caught without iqamas for the second and third times.
“If expat dependents including wife and children engage in any work or business without a permit, they will face SR1,000 ($266.50) fine for the first time, SR2,000 ($532.99) for the second time and SR3,000 ($799.48) for the third time. The police department will then propose the interior minister to deport the violator,” explained Jeddah Police Director Maj. Gen. Abdullah Al-Qahtani during a business meeting at Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday. Expatriates living in the Kingdom after the expiry of their work or visit visas would be jailed, fined and deported.
49. Do not have the right
Domestic workers, predominantly women, faced a range of abuses including overwork, forced confinement, non-payment of wages, food deprivation, and psychological, physical, and sexual abuse without the authorities holding their employers to account. Workers who attempted to report employer abuses sometimes faced prosecution based on counterclaims of theft, “black magic,” or “sorcery.”
50. Adult content
Watching or having adult content in one’s mobile phone, tablet or any other such devices is illegal in Saudi Arabia. If people are caught in possession of or watching adult content, they are instantly penalized. Customs officials are allowed to scan mobile phones at the airport, and if they find anything inappropriate the phone is immediately confiscated, and a person will get into serious trouble. Other than that, pictures of scantily dressed male/female models are also strictly prohibited. Saudi Arabia takes this issue very seriously. Even the naked arms and legs of women advertising a specific cereal product are covered over with a sticker or a thick black marker. Nudity in all its forms should be avoided entirely if you’re planning to visit the country any time soon.
51. SPEAKING AGAINST THE GOVERNING ROYAL FAMILY
The house of Saud is the ruling family of Saudi Arabia, and the most influential member of the royal family is the King of Saudi Arabia, currently King Salman. The royal family holds immense importance in the country. One of the things amongst activities considered illegal and not allowed by the government at all is speaking against the governing royal family in the country. It is said that in Saudi Arabia if someone dares to speak against the royal family, it could cost him his life. According to a news report, Saudi Arabia has executed 47 people including dissident Shiite cleric Nimr al- Nimr who had, not once but repeatedly spoken out against the Saudi royal family and the government.
52. A woman cannot do in Saudi Arabia
In September 2017, the King of Saudi Arabia announced a change in the law that will allow women to drive cars. The move will take effect in June 2018. However, a woman will need to get her guardian’s permission to operate.
The women in Saudi Arabia don’t have the right to go anywhere without their husband or a male relative. This male person who accompanies a woman is called a Mahram. Without his approval, a woman can’t leave the country, get a job, get married, enter a University or even have surgery.
Taking a train is allowed but only in a separate car at the end of the train. And most bus companies refuse to transport women. This is why women in Saudi Arabia have to walk, take a taxi or be carried by their driver.
When on the street, women in Saudi Arabia cover their entire bodies, leaving only the oval of the face, her hands, and feet open. A black abaya (a long dress with sleeves) and a hijab (a covering for their heads) are the only two things a woman can wear. The clothes should be made of thick fabric, be baggy, and shouldn’t highlight their curves. Sometimes a headscarf (Hijab, Al-Amira, Shayla Khimar) is required or a face veil (Niqab or Burka).
Women can’t have guests visit the house. Well, they can communicate with friends but only in half of the house. At home, they don’t have to follow the dress code. Guests can visit the other half of the house where women are not allowed. If a woman needs to tell her husband something, she can reach him via phone.
53. Most homes in Saudi Arabia have two entrances — one for men and one for women.
If a woman breaks the law or a tradition in Saudi Arabia, she will be punished and not in a fair way. The religious police can punish a woman for talking to an unknown man or for clothes that are not made of thick fabric. One of the lightest punishments is lashes.
There are many cases where women are brutally killed, even women who are not citizens of the country. The release from jail is only possible after a male guardian requests it. But he can also ask for a more harsh punishment — and then the woman will stay in prison for a long time.
54. Go for a swim in public
Women are not allowed to use public swimming pools available to men and can swim only in private ones or female-only gyms and spas. Reuters editor Arlene Getz describes her experience of trying to use the gym and pool at an upmarket Riyadh hotel: “As a woman, I wasn’t even allowed to look at them (‘there are men in swimsuits there,’ a hotel staffer told me with horror) – let alone use them.”
55. Try on clothes when shopping
“The mere thought of a disrobed woman behind a dressing-room door is too much for men to handle,” says Vanity Fair writer Maureen Dowd in A Girl’s Guide to Saudi Arabia.
56. More restrictions
Other more unusual limits on women’s lives include entering a cemetery and reading an uncensored fashion magazine.
https://stepfeed.com/women-in-saudi-arabia-don-t-have-fitting-rooms-so-they-re-demanding-change-9808
In Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to try on clothes in most retail stores.
Female fitting rooms are non-existent in the majority of shopping outlets across the kingdom, and this is mainly because most sales staff are male.
Even though things seem to be slowly changing, with several large outlets in the kingdom opening female changing rooms in recent months, many women in the country are understandably still frustrated over the issue.
Latest news, However, she also stressed that things seem to be changing for the better. Even though no official statement on the matter has been issued, more stores across the kingdom have been opening up fitting rooms for women.
The answer is yes mostly there are no fitting rooms, but it is getting much better as more and more stores are hiring female floor representatives and salespeople. There are families only shops, shops that only hire females and large department stores that have fitting rooms. Furthermore, most malls provide fitting room areas, but you have to purchase the items and must have cash on you to pay for the full amount as they are unable to refund credit card purchases until the next day or 24 hours have passed.
Return policies are usually 1–3 days for money back and seven days (Marks and Spencer much longer) for exchange. Most stores handle returns well; however, there are some issues. For example, the store keeps the receipt when you return an item. So if you decide to return or exchange another article from the same receipt, it will not be possible or in the least not easy. Some stores may not have enough cash to reimburse you when you return and will ask you to come back later.
It is cumbersome, but it is getting better.
57. Marry
Your wali or guardian must grant permission to marry. Women who seek to marry foreigners must obtain approval to do by the ministry of interior, and marriage to non-Muslims is so tricky as to be impossible.
58. Open a bank account
While there are now a few jobs women in the Kingdom are allowed to do without male permission, such as working as shop assistants or at fairgrounds, they are not allowed to have their bank account to control their finances without permission.
59. Dress how they want
“Dressing for beauty” is illegal, and modest clothing and make up encouraged.
Full-length abayas - a long coat worn over other clothes - must be worn by all women in public, although in recent years rules over the color, decoration and how headscarves are worn have been relaxed.
Under the rules and regulations of the government of Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to wear any such clothes or even makeup that can intentionally/unintentionally show off their beauty. They are supposed to cover themselves from head to toe while leaving their houses and Abaya is the official dress code for women that is governed by the strict implementation of Islamic laws. Abaya includes a long cloak and a headscarf. The face does not necessarily need to be covered, but some employment conditions may require the women to do so. While all the different schools of thought in Islam agree that women should wrap their heads, Saudi Arabia is the only Muslim majority country that has made this the proper dress of women and imposed it on them strictly.
60. Saudi Woman Arrested for Posting Photos of Herself Without a Hijab on Twitter
Saudi police have arrested a woman who took off her headscarf and full body covering in public and posted photos of herself on Twitter on the main street in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, last month.
According to AFP, police arrested the woman, who has not been named by authorities, on Monday. The woman, who is now in prison, has also been accused of “speaking openly about prohibited relations with (non-related) men,” the news wire reports.
According to the International Business Times, when the woman’s photos began circulating on social media, many Twitter users urged violent punishments, with one writing “Kill her and throw her corpse to the dogs.” “The least punishment for her is beheading her,” another wrote. Others, though, responded with messages of support.
61. Interact with men
Conversations and time spent with men who are not family members are limited. In public, restaurants, universities and other spaces have both a ‘family’ section and a section reserved for men.
62. Seek important medical treatment
Even life-saving operations and procedures require the written signature of a male relative.
63. Have custody of children
In cases of divorce, women are only allowed custody of their children until they reach the age of seven (boys) and nine (girls).
64. Receive an equal inheritance.
Under Sharia inheritance laws, daughters receive half what is awarded to their brothers. Critics say this is due to a misinterpretation of Islamic rules, sometimes sending women into poverty because they are left out of their fathers' wills.
65. Get a fair hearing in court,
where "the testimony of one man equals that of two women. "The legal position in Saudi Arabia of a woman is equal to that of a minor, and therefore she has little authority over her own life.
66. Apply for a national identification card or passport without the permission of a male guardian.
67. Conduct specific business without a male sponsor.
Women wanting to open their own business often have to call on at least two men who can testify to her character before she can be granted a loan or a license.
68. Marry, divorce, travel, get a job Or have elective surgery without permission from their male guardians. Women still are beholden to restrictive guardianship laws that govern nearly every aspect of their lives. In cases where a woman's father is deceased or absent, her husband, a male relative, brother, or in some cases, even a son, must give his approval before a woman can often obtain basic entitlements.
Islamic restriction prevents Muslim women from marrying non-Muslims, which is to be strictly adhered to in Saudi Arabia. Also, the Sunni woman can’t marry a Shia man or a communist (atheist).
69. Solo Females Out & About
Women in Saudi Arabia are generally not allowed to travel alone or without an electronic authorization until they reach the age of 45. However, male family members have become increasingly more lenient recently, allowing their female family members to travel alone more frequently. Although, most males still forbid women from independently going, because according to Islam, this can lead to immorality. This law varies for female foreign teachers who choose to teach in Saudi Arabia without their partner or male family members, but be sure to ask your school or placement provider how you should navigate the country as a solo female teacher.
70. A Saudi woman is arrested while attending a soccer game
DECEMBER 15, 2014 — HTTP://WWW.STARTRIBUNE.COM/SAUDI-WOMAN-ARRESTED-WHILE-ATTENDING-SOCCER-GAME/285816521/
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — A Saudi woman detained while attending a soccer game in the kingdom claims she did not know women were prohibited from going to the male-only stadiums, the state-linked Okaz newspaper reported on Monday.
Saudi Arabia enforces strict segregation of the sexes and has no designated areas for women at soccer stadiums, though authorities have announced plans for "family" areas from where women can watch matches.
71. Attend soccer matches.
In January 2018, the Al-Ahli v Al-Batin soccer match at Jeddah stadium made history by opening its doors to women. Women had to enter through designated turnstiles for women and families and had to sit in designated family stands.
72. Saudi Women Arrested For DWF - Driving While Female
"We did not break the law. We were not driving on the road,” one Saudi woman said after being arrested for practicing her driving skills. Today five women were arrested for driving in three cars in an empty lot in the Hettein district in Saudi Arabia when two police officers arrived to detain them. Next week a nation-wide protest by women who oppose the ban against female drivers will take place in the country.
In Saudi Arabia, there is no written ban against women driving. However, it is illegal for women to obtain a driver’s license in the country, making it effectively illegal for female drivers. Saudi women have seen the change and progress taking place across the Arab world and are jumping at their chance to make noise for their cause.
This ban changed in 2018
73. Gender Restrictions in Employment
Women are not permitted to work in specific jobs in Saudi Arabia, especially those that men traditionally carry out. Education or medical fields are the most common fields that women are permitted to work in. Hence, opportunities to teach English in Saudi Arabia are typically open to both women and men. Although, more recently, women have begun working as store clerks in department stores or at grocery checkout counters. Regardless of the type of employment they pursue, women are always required to cover their faces during working hours.
74. What woman cannot do in Saudi Arabia
A woman in Saudi Arabia has been arrested after running onto a stage and hugging a male singer mid-performance. The police arrested the woman and referred her to the public prosecution to face charges under the law criminalizing harassment. “The suspect is held at the Al-Taif Foundation for Women’s Care pending investigation,” the Mecca police official spokesman said.
Majid al-Mohandas was performing at a festival in the western city of Taif “when the woman darted on to the stage,” reports the BBC.
75. Saudi Arabia Releases Woman Arrested for Wearing a Skirt in Public
July 19, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/world/middleeast/saudi-woman-khulood-released-skirt-video.html
The police in Saudi Arabia have released without charge a woman who was arrested after videos appeared online of her strolling through a historic neighborhood in a short skirt and crop top, violating the country’s strict social codes.
The brief videos, downloaded and reposted from Snapchat, spread quickly on social media in the conservative Islamic kingdom, setting off heated debates between those who criticized her for breaking Saudi rules and others who defended her for doing something considered normal elsewhere in the world.
Follow up July 20, 2017-Saudi state TV announced Khulood’s arrest on Tuesday and said she’d been sent to the public prosecutor. A day later, a statement released by the Center for International Communication said she’d been released “after a few hours of questioning.” It added that the video was posted “without her knowledge.”
76. Harsh rules women of Saudi Arabia are forced to live by
A screaming newborn baby girl takes a breath and opens her eyes for the first time.
She’s too young to understand that because of her gender, she’s already been assigned a male guardian, who she will be required to answer for life.
All of the girl’s affairs will be placed in the hands of her father, brother or, in the future, her husband or son. Her male guardian will have arbitrary authority to make personal and legal decisions on her behalf.
She won’t ever be allowed to step out in public with a male who isn’t a relative without risking severe consequences.
Her mind and body will never entirely be her own.
New woman rights in Saudi Arabia
77. Women can now jog and do physical exercise in the streets.
Saudi Arabia introduced physical education for girls and began granting licenses for women's gyms, allowing women to exercise publicly.
Over 1,500 women participated in the first all-women run that was organized shortly before International Women's Day.
78. They can also enlist in the military.
Saudi Arabia's military opened applications to women for the first time in March 2018. But the criteria for applicants was and included specific height, weight, and education requirements.
Notably, women still needed to ask their male guardians for permission to apply and required to reside with their guardian in the same province as the future job's location.
While women aren’t able to apply for combat roles, they can now work in security. Applicants must be Saudi citizens, aged between 25 and 35, and have a high-school diploma.
While women aren’t able to apply for combat roles, they can now work in security. Applicants must be Saudi citizens, aged between 25 and 35, and have a high-school diploma.
This ban had changed in 2018
79. And divorced women can retain custody of their children.
In March, mothers in Saudi Arabia were granted the right to retain custody of their children after divorce, without going through legal proceedings.
Previously, Saudi courts required women to petition for custody, in a battle which often spanned years.
In many other Middle East countries, the father is considered a child's natural guardian and gains full custody at a certain age.
80. Speak out Against Sexual Harassment
The Saudi Arabian government has recently passed a law which allows Saudi Arabian women to come forward when they have been sexually harassed. The bill, which was announced last December, declares that anyone found guilty of sexually harassing a Saudi woman will be flogged or imprisoned.
81. Driving cars
Last September (2018), a royal decree was issued in Saudi Arabia stating that female citizens will be able to drive by the summer of 2018. The Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Khalid bin Salman, has said that women will not be required to have their guardians’ permission to obtain licenses or have their guardians present while driving.
In September, the King decreed that women will be allowed to drive from June 2018. However, a ministerial committee is to make “the necessary arrangements to implement it” in 30 days. Reuters reported that the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Khalid bin Salman, stated that women would not require their guardian’s permission to obtain a license and would be permitted to drive without their guardian present. However, it is unclear if other restrictive rules will apply. Previous proposals to end the driving ban have included restrictions such as limiting driving licenses to women age 30 and over or allowing driving only during daylight hours.
82. Woman playing sports
Saudi Arabia continues to discriminate against women and girls by denying them the same opportunities to exercise and play sports as men and boys. In a positive step forward, however, Saudi Arabia’s Education Ministry announced in July that Saudi girls’ schools will offer a physical education program beginning in the fall 2017 school term “in accordance with Islamic law standards” and would scale up “according to the possibilities available in each school,” including sports halls and competent women instructors. No public girls’ schools currently have sports facilities, and the statement did not say whether physical education will be mandatory for girls, or if schools will require girls to get parental permission to enroll in physical education classes. In October, authorities announced that they would permit women to attend public sporting events for the first time.
83. Woman restricted to a few jobs types
There are specific jobs in Saudi Arabia where women are not allowed to work, usually reserved for and given to men. Most job openings in Saudi Arabia prefer and employ men. Even if a woman can get an offer, she will need the permission of her ‘Mahram’ to practice or take the job in question. The opportunities to teach women are open to both the genders but being employed in any fields other than education and related medical fields is generally unacceptable and frowned upon. Although women have now begun to work in places such as stores (working as a clerk) and in department or grocery stores at checkout counters, they are still required to follow a much stricter code of conduct. Regardless of the job that they pursue, they are always asked to cover themselves and most importantly cover their faces while working.
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