JEDDAH: A draft law to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace has triggered a heated debate among Shoura Council members with opponents saying it would encourage mixed-gender working environments.

Supporters believe such a law is essential to protect women from harassment. “Those who oppose this law are like ostriches hiding their heads in the sand,” said Mazin Balilah, adding that Muslim countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Tunisia and Egypt have already introduced such laws.

According to the draft, which is yet to be presented to the 150-member consultative body, a person found guilty of sexual harassment could face a jail sentence of six to 12 months and a fine of SR20,000 to SR50,000.

Under the draft law, heads and managers of companies and other institutions would be required to make internal regulations to prevent harassment.

Balilah, who proposed the law, emphasized its relevance, especially in institutions like hospitals and schools where women often work alongside men. He said about half of the Shoura members have approved the law. “We hope when it is presented for debate the number of supporters will increase.”

Members like Talal Al-Bakri, chairman of the Shoura’s Committee for Social, Family and Youth Affairs, said the enactment of the law would be an indirect approval of the mixing of sexes in the workplace. “This goes against the teachings of Islam, our social customs and the Kingdom’s basic law of governance,” he told Al-Madinah Arabic daily.

Azib Al-Mesbal, chairman of the Committee for Islamic, Judicial and Human Rights Affairs, said his committee would discuss all aspects of the law before presenting it to the Shoura. He said he would give his opinion about the law only after a thorough study.

Balilah said the Kingdom’s labor law does not mention sexual harassment at the workplace. “There is not a single article in the law related to sexual harassment,” he pointed out. He said some private companies in the Kingdom were following foreign laws to prevent harassment.

Balilah said he discussed the issue with Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi, who said sexual harassment in the workplace was not included in the labor law because it was not a phenomenon in the Kingdom. “But the minister then told me that if any such law was passed by the Shoura his ministry would support it,” he said.

Al-Bakri said some women invite harassment through provocative dresses and appearance.

“Such cases often happen in public places, such as shopping malls and hospitals. The police, Shariah courts, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and human rights groups deal with these cases,” he said, playing down the significance of the new law.