RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's Public Prosecution has warned that those showing disrespect to the national flag in public will be awarded a one-year jail term and fine amounting to SR3,000 or any one of these penalties. In a statement posted on its Twitter account on the eve of the Kingdom's 90th National Day that falls on Wednesday, Sept. 23, the Public Prosecution said that the offenders will be penalized in accordance with the provision of the Article 20 of the Kingdom's Flag Law, which stipulates punitive measures against anyone who drops or destroys or insults the national flag or royal flag or any other emblem of the Kingdom. The Public Prosecution clarified that the penalties will also be applied to anyone who shows disrespect to the national flag or symbols of any friendly foreign country out of hatred or contempt for the government authority or of those countries in public. The prosecution said in its tweet that Saudi Arabia's flag and the royal flag are appreciated and respected by all. The green-colored Saudi flag carries a sword in white. It also carries a white inscription in Arabic, proclaiming Islam's slogan of monotheism: "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." The royal flag matches the national flag in its descriptions and is embroidered with golden silk threads in its lower corner adjacent to the flagstick.
