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Heart emoji can land you in jail, yes! You read that right.
Sending a heart emoji to a girl through social networking sites in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait is now considered a crime of incitement to debauchery, punishable by law.
According to Kuwaiti lawyer, Haya Al Shalahi, those convicted of this offence can face up to two years in prison along with a fine not exceeding 2,000 Kuwaiti dinars.
Similarly, in the neighbouring Saudi Arabia, sending ‘red heart’ emojis on WhatsApp could also lead to jail time.
According to Saudi law, anyone found guilty of this offense faces a two- to five-year prison sentence as well as a fine of 100,000 Saudi Riyals.
Sending red hearts on WhatsApp may be considered “harassment” under Saudi law, according to a cybercrime specialist there.
The Anti-Fraud Association of Saudi Arabia member Al Moataz Kutbi emphasized that using “certain images and expressions during online conversations may turn into a harassment crime if a lawsuit is filed by the aggrieved party.”
Repeat infractions might result in a stunning punishment of 300,000 Saudi Riyals and a maximum of five years in prison.
