A former Saudi judge has declared winking is a form of sexual harassment worthy of imprisonment, Arabic daily Makkah has reported.
Lawyer and former judge Ahmad Al Jaliti said winking was “highly unethical” and deserved punishment.
“When a man winks at a woman in a public place or vice versa, they mean to initiate an interaction that will lead to an unlawful relationship,” Al Jaliti was quoted as saying.
He added men should face stiffer punishment than women as their harassment usually had worse consequences.
However, he said it was only considered sexual harassment when it was persistent and the person’s intent was emphasised.
“If a man winks at a woman persistently he may undergo disciplinary action, be issued a warning, face imprisonment and be obliged to do community service,” he said.
“This applies to both men and women.”
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