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������legal advisor��has said that deleting someone from a WhatsApp group in the kingdom��could result in a prison sentence and a fine, sparking controversy on Twitter.��

Saudi legal adviser Ahmed Ajad�� on Monday that group admins who remove members could face up to a year in jail or a fine of up to 500,000 riyals ($133,300 USD) if their actions cause��others harm.

Ajad said��the legal consequences could occur under Article 3 of the kingdom's law, which deals with defaming��or inflicting damage upon others through the use of information technology.��However, other lawyers said��his application of the law to was "misplaced".��

Ajad told Makkah��that the harm inflicted on the deleted member is often "moral", diminishing their��value and degrading them. He encouraged "peace" and the use of caution.

His comments have sparked��, panic and - in some cases - amusement across Saudi Twitter.

Lawyer Fawaz al-Dakhil�� that Ajad's interpretation was exaggerated and that the anti-cybercrime law was not applicable in this instance.

Another lawyer, Khalid al-Mahmadi told Al-Watan��that WhatsApp group members could��file a claim in a civil court for any damages they had sustained from being removed from a group, but��that there was no for removing members.

Following Ajad's remarks the kingdom's laws "oppress the people".

Another Twitter user, identifying herself as "Dr. Hussa", expressed anger at the possibility of individuals being punished for "crimes" on WhatsApp "while a prince is not punished for kidnapping��and theft".

في يعاقب من يحذف عضو من قروب واتس بالسجن والغرامة بينما لايعاقب أمير على خطف وقتل والتي عرفت رحمها الله بـ ولايعاقب على اختفاء الترليون من المال العام أو على شراء قصر في واليخت واللوحة المزيفة من مال الشعب

— د. حصة بنت محمد الماضي 🤐 (@drhussahmm)

��they had decided to leave WhatsApp groups following the news.��However, some found the possibility of jail-time in this instance funny, with some Twitter users referring to Ajad as a "clown".

الله لا يشغلنا الا بطاعته، اجل تخيل انك داخل السجن ويسألوك المساجين ايش تهمتك 😂🤦🏾

— AHMED AKRAM 🍬 (@A7MAD_AKRAM)

المستشارين القانونيين هالايام مايفرقون كثير عن مهرجين الونترلاند

— فهد القحطاني (@FahadQ48)