RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched a new website as part of a government public health initiative known as “Effah,” which claims to help people “get rid of pornography addiction” in 100 days.
Saud Al Hassani, director of the Effah “psychological counseling program” launched in 2019 by the theocratic, family-ruled kingdom, explained to Gulf media that the new website “will include specialized psychological models and lessons to help get rid of pornography addiction, in addition to a ‘Ten Steps’ program, and a ‘women’s recovery model.’”
Health experts have overwhelmingly debunked the notion of “pornography addiction” as a medical ailment, finding instead a meaningful correlation between religious, shame-based indoctrination about human sexuality, and compulsory behaviors concerning exposure to sexual imagery.
Al Hassani added that the Effah website “offers treatment for porn addiction based on a systematic model and three key pillars: cognitive behavioral therapy, spiritual therapy and a safe support environment” and will eradicate “porn addiction” after 100 days.
Efah is a Quranic name for girls that means “modesty,” “chastity,” “abstaining from all bad things” and “moral excellence.”
“The website will also explain the damaging effects of pornography, and why we have not been able to stop it so far, and will clarify the steps of recovery based on Islamic teachings,” a rep explained. “It will also feature gifts, prizes, interactive weekly meetings for support and assistance, and will share success stories of those who have successfully beaten pornography addiction.”
Echoing religiously motivated anti-porn groups in the U.S. and Europe, Al Hassani said that pornography is “an issue that affects human values, psychological health and productivity and can also lead to fueling harassment and violence.”
The Saudi bureaucrat also claimed that “a third of internet content is pornographic.”
