A Saudi Arabian court sentenced a woman to 70 lashes for insulting a man on the WhatsApp messaging program, Gulf News reported.
The unnamed 32-year-old women was also ordered to pay a fine of approximately $5,300.
The criminal court in Al Qatif in Eastern Saudi Arabia found the women tarnished the reputation of the complainant through the chat application.
The case was filed by the man following an argument on the application, though the nature of the argument and insult is not known. The women admitted to insulting him, but said she rejects the court ruling.
Per Article Three of the Saudi Anti-Cyber Crime Law, any person who defames or inflicts damage on others through "the use of various information technology devices" is subject to "imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and a fine not exceeding SR 500,000 ($130,000) or to either punishment."
In July 2014, two women were sentenced to 10 days in jail and 20 lashes for insulting each other over the messaging application, according to Gulf News.
The sentencing adds to the furor of sustained criticism over human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia, which happens to be one of the U.S.'s closest allies in the Middle East.
The country strictly adheres to Sharia Islamic law, publicly beheading people for crimes such as adultery, sorcery and the renunciation of a religious faith. More severe crimes such as rape, murder, armed robbery and drug trafficking are also punishable by death. Other sanctioned means of execution include crucifixion and stoning. Other acts, like insulting Islam, can carry a penalty of hundreds of lashes.
The Telegraph reported earlier this month that the Saudi blogger who was sentenced to 1,000 lashes after being convicted of insulting Islam could face death by beheading.
Since Jan. 1, Saudi Arabia has publicly executed 45 people, according to an AFP count, reported the Telegraph.
The country is routinely among the world's top five executioners and is "well on track" to exceed previous annual execution records, according to Amnesty International. Last year, it carried out 87 executions, according to AFP.
Saudi officials insist that their criminal punishments are legitimate since they are based on "a decision made by a court," rather than an arbitrary decision, reported NBC News.
"When we do it in Saudi Arabia we do it as a decision made by a court," Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki told NBC. "The killing is a decision, I mean it is not based on arbitrary choices, to kill this and not to kill this."
