The Triple Shackles of Doctrine, Law, and Ethics: Decoding the Deep Logic Behind Saudi Arabia’s Ban on Adult Products

Against the backdrop of increasingly free global commodity circulation, Saudi Arabia’s strict ban on adult products stands out prominently—not only prohibiting production, sale, and import, but also imposing severe penalties on individuals carrying such items into the country, including confiscation of goods, fines, and even imprisonment. This ban is not a mere policy choice, but rather a triple shackle rooted in Saudi Arabia’s religious doctrine, legal system, and social ethics, embodying its unique social governance model and cultural values. This article, spanning 3,000 words, systematically analyzes the deep logic behind the ban on adult products in Saudi Arabia from three core dimensions—doctrinal roots, legal solidification, and ethical rejection—combining interpretations of religious classics, analysis of legal provisions, and social reality cases. It reveals the faith adherence, institutional design, and cultural identity underlying the ban.

I. Doctrinal Roots: The Absolute Norms of Islamic Law on Sexual Ethics

Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries in the world that takes Islamic law (Shariah law) as the fundamental source of national law. The doctrinal ideas of Wahhabi Islam profoundly influence every aspect of social life. The prohibition of adult products primarily stems from their violation of the core norms of sexual ethics in Islamic law, being deemed heretical items that contradict the “will of Allah” and the “principles of the right path.”

(1) Clear Definition of Sexual Order in the Quran and Hadith

The core of sexual ethics in Islamic law lies in the “sanctity and exclusivity of sex”—sex should only exist within the framework of a legitimate marital relationship, with the purposes of procreation and maintaining conjugal affection. Any sexual expression or auxiliary tools beyond this scope are regarded as profanations of the sacred order. The Quran clearly stipulates: “And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is a transgression and an evil way” (17:32). Religious authorities interpret adult products as tools that “stimulate illegal sexual desire and distort correct sexual concepts,” whose very existence violates the principle of “sexual purity.”

More instructive are the Hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad). The Hadith repeatedly emphasizes that “husbands and wives should treat each other kindly, but not in ways that contradict nature,” and religious scholars generally classify adult products as “sexually auxiliary means that go against nature.” Ibn Baz, an authoritative Wahhabi scholar, clearly stated: “Any instrument used to stimulate sexual desire or alter natural sexual behavior is a challenge to the order created by Allah. Believers must resolutely stay away from them, and the state should prohibit them.” This interpretation is not an individual view but a consensus among Saudi religious circles—adult products are seen as a potential threat that “induces lust and undermines family ethics,” and their spread may lead to moral decline in society, thus necessitating a ban at the source.

(2) Rejection of New Items Under the Principle of “Prohibition of Innovation”

While Islamic law includes the balancing principles of “Istihbab” (preferability) and “Maslaha” (public interest), it also emphasizes “Bid’ah” (prohibition of innovation)—any new thing not recognized in the time of the Prophet that may lead to deviation from doctrine should be guarded against or prohibited. As a product of modern industrial civilization, adult products lack legitimate basis in traditional Islamic law and are believed to potentially lead to the infiltration of “sexual liberation” ideology, forming a sharp contrast with the Wahhabi values of “asceticism and purity.”

Saudi Arabia’s highest religious authority, the Council of Senior Scholars, issued a special fatwa (religious ruling) in 2010, explicitly classifying adult products as “Haram” (forbidden items), stating: “Such items encourage people to pursue physical pleasure at the expense of spiritual purification, violating the Islamic code of life centered on faith and family.” This fatwa holds legal force and serves as the direct religious basis for the Saudi government’s ban on adult products. In Saudi society, the rulings of religious authorities are unchallengeable, and both ordinary citizens and government institutions must strictly abide by them, endowing the ban on adult products with the deepest religious support.

(3) Strengthening by Gender Segregation and Sexual Shame Culture

In the practice of Islamic law in Saudi Arabia, a strict gender segregation system has evolved, with the core of “protecting women’s chastity” and “upholding public morality.” Adult products are regarded as a violation of the gender segregation system—not only challenging the norm that “sex should only exist within marriage,” but also potentially being interpreted as a symbol of “women actively pursuing sexual satisfaction,” which sharply conflicts with the social perception of women’s gender roles as “passive and modest.”

In Saudi Arabia’s culture of sexual shame, “sex” is considered a highly private topic that cannot be publicly discussed. Any public expression or commercial circulation related to sex is deemed a “shameful act.” As a “materialized tool of sex,” the production, sale, and use of adult products inevitably involve the publicization and commercialization of sex, directly crossing the societal line of shame. Religious leaders have repeatedly emphasized in Friday sermons: “The spread of adult products will plunge society into promiscuity and rob families of their purity. Every believer has a responsibility to resist such evil items.” This cultural atmosphere has made the prohibition of adult products a social consensus, and even formed a national supervision mechanism of “reporting forbidden items.”

II. Legal Solidification: Mandatory Constraints from Doctrine to Institution

If religious doctrine is the ideological root of the ban on adult products, Saudi Arabia’s legal system has transformed this ideology into mandatory institutional norms. Through full-chain control covering legislation, law enforcement, and justice, it ensures that adult products cannot circulate within the country. Saudi Arabia’s legal prohibition of adult products is not ambiguous, but forms a complete control system of “import ban – sales penalties – usage supervision.”

(1) Import and Customs Supervision: Comprehensive Physical Blockade

Saudi customs law explicitly classifies adult products as “harmful items prohibited from import,” alongside drugs, pornographic publications, and alcohol. According to Article 17 of the Saudi Customs Law: “Any item that may endanger public morality or violate Islamic law is prohibited from entering Saudi Arabia. Customs authorities have the right to confiscate such items and impose fines or imprisonment on the bearer.” This provision grants customs officials broad discretionary power—any item deemed by customs officers as an “adult product” or “an item that may stimulate sexual desire” can be seized.

In practical law enforcement, Saudi customs adheres to the principle of “better to intercept erroneously than to let one slip through,” implementing strict inspections on suspected items. In 2023, a foreign tourist was fined 5,000 Saudi Riyals (approximately 10,000 RMB) and deported for carrying a vibrator in their luggage (classified as an adult product by customs); in 2022, a batch of adult products disguised as “health equipment” was seized at the Port of Jeddah, with a value exceeding 2 million Saudi Riyals. The importer was prosecuted criminally and faced 3 years in prison. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has established cooperation mechanisms with international courier companies, requiring them to pre-screen packages destined for Saudi Arabia and prohibit adult products from entering through postal channels. This strict customs supervision has physically cut off the main channels for adult products to enter Saudi Arabia.

(2) Production and Sales Ban: Absolute Commercial Prohibition

Article 29 of Saudi Arabia’s Commercial Activities Law explicitly prohibits “the production, sale, or distribution of any goods that violate Islamic law or public morality,” with adult products clearly included in this category. Within Saudi Arabia, there are no legitimate adult product manufacturers, nor any businesses daring to sell such products publicly. Even in more internationalized cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, adult products rarely appear on the black market—partly due to the extremely high risks and partly because demand is strictly suppressed.

Saudi law stipulates severe penalties for the illegal sale of adult products. According to Article 340 of the Criminal Code, those who illegally produce or sell adult products shall be sentenced to 1-5 years in prison and a fine of 100,000-500,000 Saudi Riyals; if the offense involves dissemination to minors or large-scale sales, the prison term can be extended to 10 years. In 2019, Riyadh police cracked a cross-border adult product sales case involving 3 foreign suspects selling goods through social media. They were ultimately sentenced to 2 years in prison, a 200,000 Saudi Riyal fine, and deportation. This “severe punishment deterrence” has deterred businesses from crossing the line, completely eliminating the commercial circulation space for adult products.

(3) Implicit Supervision of Personal Use: Extension of Social Control

Saudi law does not explicitly stipulate that “personal use of adult products” constitutes a crime, but achieves implicit supervision of personal behavior through catch-all provisions for “crimes against public morality” and “crimes against public decency.” According to Article 338 of the Criminal Code, “anyone who commits acts violating Islamic law or public morality in public places, or possesses items that may endanger social decency, may be fined, imprisoned, or flogged.” Although it is difficult to directly supervise the personal use of adult products in private spaces, Saudi Arabia’s social monitoring system (including religious police and neighborhood reports) exposes such behavior to extremely high risks of discovery.

The Mutawa (religious police), as a special law enforcement force responsible for upholding religious order, has the right to investigate “acts suspected of violating morality.” Historically, there have been numerous cases of religious police breaking into private residences to investigate “illegal items.” While Saudi Arabia has restricted the powers of the Mutawa in recent years, law enforcement against “moral crimes” remains strict. Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s “snitching culture” has exacerbated the risks of personal use—neighbors or colleagues who discover someone in possession of adult products may report them to the police or religious institutions, with informants even being regarded as having performed a “righteous act.” This implicit supervision has made even the personal use of adult products in private spaces a high-risk behavior, further strengthening the effectiveness of the ban.

III. Ethical Rejection: Collective Social and Cultural Resistance to “Heresical Items”

Saudi Arabia’s social ethics are centered on “collectivism” and “religious identity,” and individual behavioral choices must submit to the overall values of society. The complete prohibition of adult products is not only due to doctrinal and legal constraints, but also because they face collective ethical rejection in Saudi society—in the cultural cognition of Saudis, adult products are symbols of “immorality, impurity, and inappropriate identity,” whose existence is incompatible with the core values of society.

(1) Family Ethics: Marital Values Centered on Procreation

Saudi family ethics are based on Islamic law, with the core purpose of marriage defined as “procreation and the inheritance of faith.” Sexual relations between husband and wife must serve this core purpose. Adult products are regarded as tools that “deviate from the essence of marriage,” transforming sex from a “reproductive responsibility” into “personal pleasure,” which conflicts with Saudi society’s family values. In Saudi family concepts, “hedonism” is a negative trait, and couples should pursue spiritual harmony rather than physical stimulation.

Saudi family structures are based on extended families (clans), and an individual’s behavior represents not only themselves but also the honor of the entire clan. If a family member is found using or possessing adult products, it will be regarded as a “disgrace to the clan,” potentially leading to loss of status or even expulsion from the clan. This ethical concept of “clan honor binding” means that individuals face not only legal risks but also enormous clan pressure when confronted with adult products. Many Saudi families actively instill the idea that “adult products are evil” in their children from an early age, shaping a psychological rejection of such items from childhood.

(2) Social Ethics: Collective Consensus on Upholding a “Pure Society”

The core ethical pursuit of Saudi society is to “uphold purity and justice,” and any thing that may undermine social purity will face collective resistance. Adult products are regarded as “catalysts for lust,” whose spread may lead to social problems such as extramarital affairs and sexual crimes, thus being seen as a threat to social order. In Saudi Arabia’s public discourse system, “pure society” is a frequently used term, and the government and religious institutions constantly emphasize the need to “resist the erosion of foreign decadent culture and safeguard the purity of Islamic society,” with adult products listed as typical representatives of “foreign decadent culture.”

This collective consensus has formed strong social pressure. In Saudi media, education, and public propaganda, adult products are always portrayed as “evil items harmful to society,” and related topics are strictly prohibited from public discussion. In school education, students are taught to “uphold moral bottom lines and stay away from all items that violate doctrine”; in media propaganda, cases of customs seizing adult products are occasionally reported to warn the public; in religious sermons, clergy repeatedly emphasize that “adult products are a path to hell.” This comprehensive public opinion guidance has made the rejection of adult products a “political correctness” in Saudi society, and individuals dare not publicly express different views even if they hold them.

(3) Cultural Identity: Vigilance Against Foreign Culture and Adherence to Local Traditions

As one of the core birthplaces of Islamic civilization, Saudi Arabia possesses a strong sense of cultural identity and pride, while maintaining a high degree of vigilance against foreign cultures. Adult products are regarded as products of Western “sexual liberation” culture, and their spread is interpreted as “cultural invasion” that may threaten local Islamic cultural traditions. The Saudi government has long pursued a “cultural protection policy,” safeguarding cultural independence by restricting the import of foreign cultural products and strengthening local cultural education.

In Saudi cultural cognition, “Western culture” and “Islamic culture” are seen as opposing poles—Western values such as sexual freedom and individualism are regarded as “decadent and degenerate,” while Islamic values such as asceticism and collectivism are seen as “pure and noble.” As one of the symbols of Western culture, adult products naturally become objects of rejection. Although young Saudis are exposed to Western culture through the Internet and other channels, under the triple pressure of family, religion, and society, most adhere to their local cultural identity and maintain a rejecting attitude toward adult products. This cultural vigilance makes it difficult for adult products to gain a foothold in Saudi Arabia even in the context of globalization.

IV. Practical Dilemmas and Future Trends of the Ban

Despite the formation of the “doctrine-law-ethics” triple shackle on adult products in Saudi Arabia, the ban faces certain practical dilemmas against the backdrop of globalization and social changes. On the one hand, the popularization of the Internet has made it easier for Saudis to access foreign cultures and related information, and the attitudes of some young people toward adult products have begun to undergo subtle changes. Adult products occasionally appear on the black market through hidden channels; on the other hand, with the advancement of Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030,” society has gradually opened up, the gender segregation system has loosened to some extent, social ethics in certain fields have begun to show a trend of diversification, and discussions about “sex” are no longer as taboo as in the past.

However, in the short term, it is difficult to fundamentally change the status quo of adult products being “shut out” of Saudi Arabia. There are three reasons: first, the core status of religious doctrine remains unchanged, the influence of Wahhabism is still deeply rooted, and any policy adjustment that violates doctrine may trigger social unrest; second, the legal system is highly rigid, and as the fundamental source of law, the norms of Islamic law on sexual ethics are difficult to modify easily; third, the collective consensus of social ethics has strong inertia, and change requires a long time, as well as joint promotion by religious authorities, the government, and society.

In the long run, the enforcement of the ban may become somewhat “flexible.” With the improvement of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and social openness, the government may appropriately relax controls on certain “non-explicit” items or reduce interference in personal private spaces on the premise of “upholding doctrinal bottom lines.” However, this does not mean that adult products will be legalized, but rather that a tacit relaxation of “turning a blind eye” may occur—for as long as it does not trigger public dissemination or social problems, the supervision of personal implicit use may be reduced.

V. Conclusion: The Essence of the Ban Under the Triple Shackles

The exclusion of adult products from Saudi Arabia is essentially an inevitable result of its unique “doctrine-law-ethics” governance model. Doctrine provides the ideological root for the ban, clarifying “why to prohibit”; law provides the institutional guarantee, solving “how to prohibit”; ethics provides the social foundation, ensuring “everyone complies.” These three shackles support and strengthen each other, forming a closed-loop control system that leaves almost no room for adult products to exist in Saudi Arabia.

Behind this ban lies Saudi Arabia’s adherence to its own culture and faith. In the wave of globalization, Saudi Arabia has chosen a path of “upholding traditions and resisting erosion,” safeguarding social stability and cultural purity by prohibiting adult products and other items that may challenge its core values. For Saudi Arabia, the ban is not merely a restriction on a type of commodity, but a defense of its social governance model, cultural identity, and belief system.

Understanding this ban requires moving beyond the binary opposition of “freedom versus prohibition” and respecting Saudi Arabia’s unique values and social governance model from within its cultural context. To the outside world, Saudi Arabia’s ban may seem “conservative,” but to Saudis themselves, it is a necessary choice to defend their way of life and spiritual homeland. In the future, with the changes in Saudi society, the ban may undergo certain adjustments, but as long as its “doctrine-law-ethics” triple governance model remains fundamentally unchanged, the overall pattern of adult products being “shut out” will not waver.