From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Saudi Arabia declares online satire a punishable offense
Saudi Arabia will punish online satire that “disrupts public order” with up to five years in prison, the public prosecutor says as the kingdom cracks down on dissent.
“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),” the public prosecution tweets.
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 since his appointment in June 2017. Saudi Arabia’s legislation on cybercrime has sparked concern among international rights groups in the past.
— AFP
The Times of Israel Community.