The National Society for Human Rights has expressed its concern regarding the decline of the tolerance level in the Saudi Society, on the popular and official levels, calling for the importance of facing it in a way that will not violate the fundamental right to expression.

For more illustration, Dr.Saleh Al-Khathlan, the Vice Chairman of the Society, has illustrated, in a statement to “Sabq”, the following: “The Society has noted the unexpected negative impacts of the Arab spring and the spread of the modern means of communications on the level of tolerance and freedom of expression”.

He adds saying that some people use such means in abusing others and inciting against them because of the difference in opinion or in the political or sectarian beliefs as well as inciting and mobilizing against governmental entities. Hence, the competent authorities restrict, because of such practices, the freedom of expression through the loose interpretation of the provisions of the anti-cyber crime law and start punishing members who have expressed their opinions regarding the public affairs though it is inconsistent with the right of expression guaranteed in the Islamic law and the human rights conventions.

Besides, the Society has called for the protection of the freedom of expression and the promotion of the virtue of tolerance through several procedures such as: adjusting the interpretation of the anti-cyber crime law in a clear and accurate way so as not to be a mean to prevent the individuals from their right to express and comment on the public affairs’ issues and intensifying the awareness regarding the importance of tolerance and standing against the clear incitement that threatens the security of the society.