Saudi Arabia approves law to criminalise domestic abuse

New law criminalises abuse in the home and workplace for the first time, and authorises law enforcement agencies to investigate alleged instances of mistreatment. Elizabeth Dickinson reports

ABU DHABI // Saudi Arabia's cabinet has approved a law that for the first time criminalises abuse in the home and workplace and authorises law enforcement agencies to investigate alleged instances of mistreatment.
Those convicted of abuse could face up to a year in jail and between 5,000 and 50,000 Saudi Riyals (Dh4,900 to Dh49,000) in fines, local daily the Saudi Gazette reported.
The law, approved during a cabinet session chaired by deputy prime minister Prince Muqrin on August 26, calls for victims to receive "psychological, social and health shelter and care", state media reported.
The new cabinet order also mandates employers to report any allegations of abuse to the ministry of social affairs and protects the identity of those providing such information.
"It is not permissible to disclose the identity of the informer of a case of abuse without his consent," state media said.
The Saudi National Society for Human Rights, a government authorised watchdog, lauded the bill as an "important step" toward ending "the infringement and violation of rights to a broad category of society", according to a statement on Wednesday.
While applauding the new rules, rights groups warned that implementation will still be a challenge.
The new rules could be a watershed for cases of domestic abuse in the Kingdom.
Such ill-treatment has previously been considered a private affair, confined the home and to families and outside the purview of the courts. Court cases alleged domestic abuse are rarely brought.
Complicating such prosecutions, Saudi Arabia's guardianship system places children and women - who are often most vulnerable to abuse - legally under the protection of male family members. It can be socially difficult and even dangerous for victims to come forward about abuse by their guardians or family members.
The exact details of the new law have not been disclosed. The society urged authorities to spell them out as soon as possible.
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