The innocent act of exchanging heart emoticons has taken an unexpected turn in conservative Gulf countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia amid the ever-changing digital communication landscape. What appears to be an innocent, affectionate gesture may have significant legal ramifications, leading to incarceration.
With the rise of social media and instant messaging systems, there has been a cultural clash between traditional ideals and modern communication techniques.
While emojis are frequently used innocently to describe feelings or intentions, some are perceived as crossing the line of appropriate communication in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Heart emojis, for example, are regarded as a symbol of affection and are frequently connected with romantic desire or love. Sending these emojis to members of the other sex, especially if they are unrelated, might be interpreted as a breach of modesty and an attempt to establish a romantic relationship against cultural standards.
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- Love In The Digital Age: Using Heart Emojis With Girls Can Land You In Jail With Fine Of 2,000 Kuwaiti Dinars
- Is It Killing Social Norms?
Love In The Digital Age: Using Heart Emojis With Girls Can Land You In Jail With Fine Of 2,000 Kuwaiti Dinars
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Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, profoundly based on traditional Islamic traditions, have rigorous restrictions limiting gender interactions. Public displays of affection can violate these cultural standards, whether physical or virtual.
In this context, red heart emojis, commonly linked with romantic feelings, might raise moral and modesty difficulties, leading to severe implications for the people involved.
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Beyond the legal ramifications, criminalising digital expressions can significantly impact gender dynamics and relationships. The fear of punishment may inhibit people from openly expressing themselves, stifling genuine friendships and dialogue between genders.
Is It Killing Social Norms?
Sending a heart emoji to a female on WhatsApp or any other social networking site in Kuwait is now a severe offence of solicitation for evil.
According to Haya Al Shalahi, a Kuwaiti lawyer, people convicted of this offence face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to 2,000 Kuwaiti dinars.
Similarly, sending ‘red heart’ emojis on WhatsApp might result in jail time in adjacent Saudi Arabia. According to Saudi legislation, anyone guilty of this act faces a prison sentence of two to five years and a fine of 100,000 Saudi Riyals.
As per the Saudi cybercrime expert, texting red hearts on WhatsApp could be considered “harassment” under Saudi law.
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Al Moataz Kutbi, a member of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Association, said using “certain images and expressions during online conversations may turn into a harassment crime if a lawsuit is filed by the aggrieved party.”
In the case of repeated offences, the punishment could reach 300,000 Saudi Riyals, with a potential sentence of five years in prison.
The cautionary tale of sending red heart emojis in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia demonstrates the intricate interplay of digital communication, cultural norms, and legal ramifications.
As technology continues to influence our methods of communication, it is critical to comprehend the complex web of circumstances that contribute to such situations and work towards a peaceful coexistence of personal freedom and societal values.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn