According to a number of overseas reports, the head of Saudi Arabia’s judiciary and the Kingdom’s most senior cleric, Sheikh Saleh Al-Laheedan, has triggered an international controversy by stating that owners of satellite TV channels broadcasting what he calls ‘obscene programs’ could face execution as per the law.
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Al-Watan Arabic daily quoted Al-Laheedan as saying that, “It is legitimate to kill those who encourage corruption in faith and action if their evil cannot be stopped by other penalties”.
The head of the Kingdom’s judiciary also explained that a person could be killed not only for murdering another person but also for corrupting faith and morality.
He urged the owners of Arab channels not to use their media to “broadcast immoral and un-Islamic programs, including those promoting black magic. They should rather work to protect Islam”.
BBC Arab affairs analyst, Magdi Abdelhadi sais that, “Fighting this hard line approach can be difficult when the country’s top judge calls for the beheading of those he views as immoral broadcasters”.
The owners of several Arab satellite TV channels have also expressed their concern over the statement.
