Prostitution in Saudi Arabia

Prostitution is illegal in Saudi Arabia,[1] and is punishable by imprisonment and fines.[2] Flogging was also a possible punishment until April 2020 when it was abolished by the order of the Saudi Supreme Court General Commission.[3][4] Foreign nationals are also deported after punishment.[5] If the parties are also charged with adultery, fornication and sodomy, which can apply to both the prostitute and the client since all sexual activity outside a lawful marriage is illegal, the punishment can be death.[6][7]

Prostitutes tend to be mostly from Nigeria, Ethiopia,[8] Yemen, Morocco, and Tajikistan.[9]

The Religious Police are responsible for carrying out floggings. Prostitutes may be whipped in public. Some of these have been carried out excessively and deaths have resulted.[5] However, the punishment of flogging was abolished in April 2020, and replaced by fines or jail time.[4] Foreign prostitutes who are arrested by the Saudi vice police face deportation.[8]

In June 2007, 80 women were sent to trial for prostitution and 20 men for trafficking or pimping.[5]

  1. ^ "Asia Times - Asia's most trusted news source for the Middle East". Archived from the original on 23 December 2003. Retrieved 21 April 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "Saudi Police Seize 80 For Prostitution, Pimping," Middle East Times, June 22, 2007
  3. ^ "Saudi Arabia to eliminate flogging punishment". Saudigazette. 2020-04-24. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  4. ^ a b "Saudi Arabia to abolish flogging - supreme court". BBC News. 2020-04-24. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  5. ^ a b c ZAHARIE, Cristian Giuseppe. "THE LEGAL REGIME OF PROSTITUTION ON THE MUSLIM COUNTRIES" (PDF). REPEC. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  6. ^ Federal Research Division (2004). Saudi Arabia A Country Study. p. 304. ISBN 978-1-4191-4621-3.
  7. ^ "Travel Advice and Advisories for Saudi Arabia". Canadian Government. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  8. ^ a b "BBC News - FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT - Saudi's sleazy underworld". 2001-11-20. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Country Narratives -- Countries Q through Z". U.S. Department of State. 2007-06-12. Retrieved 21 April 2016.