Mahmoud Ahmad

The recent video clip that went viral on social media — where a group of men are seen harassing a group of girls exiting one of the Eastern Province malls — can be best described as shocking. A person watching the video, which lasted only for a minute or more, notwithstanding the repugnance of the act could feel sorry for some of our youth, not all. For it is unfortunate that these youths have nothing else to do but while away time by chasing girls and harassing them. It is only those who have endemic issues who will dare to cross the line of decency.



The incident that took place last week showed a group of girls leaving the mall in search of a limousine. At first a group of boys followed the girls out from the mall and began harassing them verbally. Emboldened by the continual verbal harassment, one of the boys approached the girls and turned physical. The girls till then non-responsive and on the defensive then started shouting while one of the girls kicked the harasser. It ended only when what seemed like a group of men were seen escorting the girls to a limousine and preventing the harasser from coming near them.



This incident is not the only one. In Jeddah a group of girls took matter into their own hands and attacked a harasser on the beach. Like the incident in the Eastern Province, three girls were surrounded by a large group of youth. The man assaulted one of the girls and the three went into action leading to a physical fight. Again the clip lasted for a minute or more but the reaction was greater.



What has gone wrong here? Why have our youth gone on a rampage and started attacking girls in public places and in broad daylight? In addition, the impunity with which the youth harass the girls with no one interfering at the scene shows only that either the people around approve the acts of harassment or did not intervene for fear of their own safety? Even if the harassing youth are caught and handed over to authorities, the question is, what will happen to them? With no clear law against harassment, what is the appropriate punishment for them?



Again like any problem that is a sore in our society, the cure starts from homes and with parents. I am confident that those involved in harassment, in both cases in Jeddah and Eastern Province, are suffering from problems at home, or else such behavior would not have taken place.



Harassment against women is a global problem. And it largely takes place when men look down on women, feel insecure and are not taught at home to respect women. These attitudes, which are prevalent in any society, are relevant in ours too. In addition the mob psychosis, which allows for false bravado in youth, too acts as catalysts to harass. A youth alone would not take this ungainly step in society but would act foolishly in a group whether by false sense of entitlement or driven by a dare.



Part of the blame has to be pinned on the girls themselves. When they walk alone in an isolated place or with a group of women wearing heavy make up and acting indecently in public, then that is an open invitation for youths to come forward and harass them, even attack them on occasions. Women should be careful when venturing outside or in a public place. But in late hours a male guardian should accompany her for protection.



We do not live in a jungle where such acts can take place without punishment. It will just take the government to punish one harasser for the rest to learn the lesson and think before committing such act. Apart from the penal length decided by the government for commission or even participation in such acts, defamation is one more form of appropriate punishment that could be reserved for such heinous acts.



The photo and full name of the harasser should be published in a newspaper to expose them. Cameras should be installed in public places around malls to take snap shots of such acts so the perpetrators could be brought to justice. These cameras should be linked with the mall security or with police so they can interfere quickly to prevent any repeat offense.



Society too should play an important role to prevent this. It takes one man to intervene to stop the harassment. For when the man steps up, the harassers will back down because they are cowards by nature. 

– Mahmoud Ahmad can be reached at mahmad@saudigazette.com.sa