GCC Countries Crack Down on Curfew Violators
With most of the GCC countries having imposed some kind of a curfew or lockdown, authorities are not taking violations lightly.
In Bahrain, there have been instructions to restrict public gatherings of more than 5 people. Moreover, the Kingdom assured that any person who refuses to implement measures to prevent the spreading of the disease can be penalized with a jail term of up to three months or/and a fine between BD1,000 to BD10,000.
In the UAE, 64 people are to face legal action for not complying with medical instructions. A statement said, “the violators did not adhere to home quarantine for 14 days as instructed and exposed others to the disease, subsequently causing the spread of Covid-19.”
Non-compliance with safety measures will lead to imprisonment and/or a fine of between Dh200,000 and Dh1 million.
In Kuwait, nine expats were arrested for breaking the 5 pm to 4 am coronavirus curfew. In a statement, the Ministry of Interior’s public relations and security media department, said the nine, who were caught in the Farwaniyah area, will be deported immediately. Authorities previously said anyone caught breaking the curfew in Kuwait will be jailed for up to three years and fined 10,00 KD ($32,000).
In Saudi Arabia, stringent new measures were announced to combat the spread of coronavirus. These include a curfew from 7 pm to 6 am for 21 days, with entry and exit restrictions in three cities. Nine people were arrested in Riyadh for breaking strict curfew laws . A spokesperson confirmed that those found guilty can face a punishment of five years in jail and a fine of SR3 million ($800,000).
In Oman, measures for social distancing have been put in place, with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry saying that shops that do not enforce social distancing will face legal action.
In Qatar, no stringent legal measures have been announced against violators yet. However, money exchanges and transfer services have been suspended starting today. All shops and bank branches in shopping malls, except for food stores and pharmacies have been shut down. Salons, barbershops, spas at hotels and retail shops are also part of the two-week closure. It also banned serving food in restaurants and cafes, allowing only delivery services and takeaway, and halted all forms of public transport.
