Saudi Arabia Announces Jail Time and Heavy Fine for Defacing Heritage Sites

The Saudi Arabia’s Public Prosecution has issued a notice of caution, calling upon the people to preserve the country’s cultural heritage while it was celebrating its Foundation Day

The above statement stipulates that any act of damaging or defacing the ancient or urban heritage sites, which is including painting, writing, engraving on the monuments, putting the advertisement on the wall, or setting the fire, will lead to the penalty of one year in jail and the fine of up to SR100,000, or only one of these two penalties.

The warning comes on the Kingdom’s celebration of its founding day, which is celebrated on February 22 of every year and is considered a national day. It holds great significance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the day that King Salman designated to remember the foundation of the first Saudi state in the Emirate of Diriyah.