Heart Emojis to Women Now Considered a Crime in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti authorities have declared that individuals guilty of sending heart emojis to women may face up to two years of incarceration. The act of sending a heart emoji to a woman on any social media platform or WhatsApp has now been categorized as a crime of incitement to evil under the law.

Kuwaiti attorney Haya Al Shalahi stated that individuals convicted of this offence could potentially serve a maximum of two years in jail and incur a fine of up to 2,000 Kuwaiti dinars. Conversely, the same offence in Saudi Arabia may result in a prison term ranging from two to five years and a penalty of 100,000 Saudi Riyals.

A Saudi cybercrime specialist declared that sending red heart emojis to any woman on WhatsApp would be interpreted as harassment under the nation’s law. Al Moataz Kutbi, a Saudi Arabia’s Anti-Fraud Association member, elaborated that “specific imagery and phrases during online interactions may be classified as a harassment crime if the aggrieved party files a lawsuit.”

For repeat offenders, the penalties can escalate to a hefty fine of 300,000 Saudi Riyals and a jail sentence of up to five years.