Partner moving to Saudi Arabia- question about porn and WhatsApp

[hamsterballs]

Hello! I am really in need of some solid advice. I can’t find a definite answer on google and I feel like my partner is ignorant about the rules of Saudi.

He is leaving soon to work on the line.

I have a million concerns but one that is worrying me is that he was outright told no pornography allowed. He is of course willing to adhere to these rules. However, he is part of a few groups chats with friends who send the most horrific/ stupid/ disgusting stuff. Sometimes he says he doesn’t even read the conversations because they send/ talk rubbish etc. But he will not leave the groups as it’s the only way to be involved, stay in the loop, connect with his friends. I do understand that.

My concern is that while in Saudi Arabia, these things are not allowed to be possessed at all. He seems to think that if he deletes it, it is fine. I told him he should really leave the group chats.

Does anyone have any experience of this who can please help me? Hate to think of him getting in serious trouble for anything let alone something so stupid.

could he get away with it probably yes. Is his phone likely to be searched, realistically not, on entry it’s rare unless suspicious, but on the off chance something goes drastically wrong and it does, does he want to be explaining this?

He needs to leave the groups, if his friends won’t keep in contact with him in any other way but this, they’re not much of friends anyway.

My brother often works in Saudi, he actually has a second phone which is completely clean from WhatsApp groups that could pose a risk with content for exactly this reason. Absolutely not worth the risk!

Ok, putting judgment of what his friends share to one side...

If it is something that would be legal in the UK I personally wouldn't worry too much. They're not going to be actively looking for it, but if he's already in trouble it could get him in more trouble. Given that he's saying that he doesn't want to look at the stuff anyway he should set his WhatsApp settings not to automatically download videos/photos and be a bit careful on what he does download.

The point where this might be a problem is if the authorities have reason to search his phone, and particularly if they actively want to find something against him. If he's going anywhere that there's a realistic likelihood someone would search his phone, he should make sure he's deleted anything controversial that has been downloaded (eg he should make sure his phone is clean when he's going through immigration).

I would be far more concerned about anything that was anti-Islamic sentiment than pornography btw. If he has a group that is routinely sharing that type of thing I would advise him to leave it. Also very pro-LGBT content is risky, particularly anything that could be seen to be targeted at children (I doubt any of that is shared in the types of WhatsApp groups you're describing though!).

Of things that are technically illegal, (UK legal) pornography is probably one of the least risky. I've never had a discussion on this with a Saudi man (not exactly something you can discuss) but I would be shocked if all but the most religious didn't share this type of images between themselves, in the same way that your DH and his friends do (ie NAMALT, but the same 'type' of man would in KSA as would in the UK).

I think the authorities will have no interest what's on his phone unless he is arrested for some other crime.

Very much this.

It simply isn’t worth the risk

Disgusting horrific content?

And this has never concerned you before.
Only now with the possible consequences of getting caught!

Look at your moral compass as you already know where your partners is.

He’s in a group that shares horrific/stupid/disgusting porn? Why are you with him?

You’re not very good at nuance then 😂

That must be it, certainly.

Saying someone might inadvertently watch content where it's not clear if women are above age is exactly the same as saying they are pedophiles.

Why are you with a man who seems to lack basic common sense and who thinks it is OK to be in chats with dodgy friends where 'horrific' and 'disgusting' material is shared?

Raise your standards and get rid of him...

Oi, simmer down, lovely. Nobody is calling your husband a paedo.
People are trying to help.

Some helpful replies, thank you.

I think I should have been clearer from the start that this is not a child pornography thing. Nor rape or anything that would get him legally in trouble in any country that I know of. It’s videos that circulate on social media, his friends spreading news videos, viral stories etc. Along with this the comments that come with it on posts that have been shared. The comments on the posts can have hate speech of course.

My question was about Saudi Arabia laws. Somewhere I have no experience or knowledge about.

I just wanted someone who could help me and advise. He obviously isn’t worried because as far as he is concerned he isn’t doing anything wrong- because he isn’t.

I haven't worked in Saudi but have been around the Middle East and generally find they say things are forbidden but he's very unlikely to get his phone searched or face any serious repercussions from any of this — Saudi doesn't want to discourage foreign nationals from coming to the country to work so I don't think they'd kick up a fuss over something small like this.

Also not really sure why everyone is judging OP's husband and his group chats, that's not what she was asking about...

@hamsterballs I can't help but just wanted to back your corner by saying these responders clearly have saintly husbands that are not part of pub or group fantasy football group chats clearly.🤪...my partner gets sent all sorts of random stuff...so I know what you mean.

OP you're the one that called it horrific and disgusting. So of course people are going to comment on it. Don't be so hyperbolic if the content isn't actually so bad.

@Digdongdoo well to me personally I did find the driver who drove over all those people horrific. And I did find that video of the prisoner officer having sex with the prisoner disgusting.

@Jjff89 and @TheRareOlivePoster thank you both. And all the others who have been helpful.

Yes I would not be involved with someone who was in groups sending disgusting porn

Get yourself a new boyfriend.

Seriously.

This is not normal and is potentially illegal content in this country, never mind another. If his friends are into this, then he's happy with their company and their views.

If my friends sent « disgusting » videos I would ask them not to or leave the group or reconsider the friendships.

It’s not often that I agree with Saudi Arabian law but the problem here is the WhatsApp groups in which your boyfriend is choosing to be a member.

He should be fine to stay in these groups provided

• The settings are such that the videos and images are not automatically downloaded on to his phone. And obviously he should not be manually downloading them.
• WhatsApp messages are encrypted so authorities will not know what is discussed in a group EXCEPT if they have a reason to search his phone. Avoid getting into any such situations I guess!
• A bigger problem for foreigners there is islamophobia and altercations with locals. It's better to use your energy to worry about those than WhatsApp I would say. A lot of people I know who get into trouble in the Middle East are in the latter category (fights/arguments with locals and then getting their phone searched).

This

Saintly? You have incredibly low standards.

Or we have partners who aren’t dickheads? Just a thought…

This. As the old saying goes, you are judged by the company you keep.

@CurlewKate yep you're right he's a total dickhead thats why I'm with him 🤣🤣🙄🙄🙄🙄 bore off