Sending heart emojis in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia is no longer an innocent act, as authorities are now treating it as a serious offense. Expressing affection through emojis could lead to imprisonment and hefty fines, as reported by Arabian Business.
Kuwait’s Legal Crackdown:
Prominent Kuwaiti lawyer, Haya Al Shalahi, revealed a recent interpretation of the law that deems sending a heart emoji to women on platforms like WhatsApp as “incitement to debauchery.” This act can result in up to two years of imprisonment and a fine of up to 2,000 Kuwaiti dinars.
Saudi Arabia’s Stricter Measures:
Saudi Arabia has also taken a firm stance against casual use of affectionate emojis, particularly the ‘red heart’ emoji on WhatsApp. Under current legal perspectives, sending such an emoji may lead to severe penalties, including a prison sentence of two to five years and a fine of 100,000 Saudi Riyals.
The Hazards of Harassment:
Al Moataz Kutbi, a cybercrime specialist and member of the Anti-Fraud Association in Saudi Arabia, warns that a red heart emoji on WhatsApp could be considered an act of “harassment” under the nation’s legal framework. Online dialogues containing certain images or phrases may escalate into a criminal offense if the aggrieved party decides to file a legal complaint.
Repeat offenders face harsher consequences. The fine could increase to an alarming 300,000 Saudi Riyals, and the imprisonment term could extend up to a maximum of five years.
