Jeddah — Saudi Arabia has passed a new law to criminalize sexual harassment.

The law was approved by the Council of Ministers chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Tuesday evening.

The Shoura Council passed a draft law on Monday which would introduce a prison term of up to five years and a maximum penalty of SR300,000 ($80,000).

It is “a very important addition to the history of regulations in the Kingdom,” Shoura Council member Latifa Al-Shaalan was quoted as saying in an information ministry statement.

“It fills a large legislative vacuum, and it is a deterrent,” she added.

“(The legislation) aims at combating the crime of harassment, preventing it, applying punishment against perpetrators and protecting the victims in order to safeguard the individual’s privacy, dignity and personal freedom which are guaranteed by Islamic law and regulations,” a statement from the Shoura Council said. — Agencies