Saudi: Curfew-Breakers Get Arrested, Face Prosecution for Social Media Posts
Saudi Arabia is taking legal action against nine people in Riyadh who were arrested for breaking strict curfew laws aimed at controlling the spread of coronavirus.
The nine were caught after posting a video on social media “walking around recklessly” and verbally abusing security authorities.
In a separate incident, Najran Police confirmed that a man had been arrested on Tuesday for posting a video online claiming shelves in a supermarket in the city were empty.
The Saudi public prosecutor has warned that anyone who posts on social media any photos or videos of violations of the newly imposed curfew order or incites anyone else to break the curfew, faces prosecution.
In a message posted on Twitter, the bureau said that perpetrators will be charged under Article Six of the Information Crime Prevention Law, which carries a punishment of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to SR 3 million. The punishment will be applied to violators but informers will not be questioned, it added.
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday reported its first death from the new coronavirus as the total number of infections spiked to 767.
