Saudi Arabia tightens media laws

**Babur** · May 01, 2011, 07:54 PM

Saudi Arabia is resisting calls for change, this can't last forever.I think it would be good if the House of Saud was deposed especially since they spread their ideology abroad to Western Europe and North America and contribute to problems regarding integration etc.Their view of human rights is also incredibly backwards and I would be considered a heretic by them for my views so I am no fan of the Saudi government

Saudi Arabia tightens media laws
Royal order threatens fines and closure of publications that jeopardise kingdom's stability or offends clerics.
Last Modified: 01 May 2011 04:27

Security has been strengthened in Saudi Arabia in an effort to crush possible protests [AFP]

Saudi Arabia has tightened its control of the media, threatening fines and closure of publications that jeopardised its stability or offended clerics, state media reported.

The tighter media controls were set out in amendments to the media law issued as a royal order.

They also banned stirring up sectarianism and "anything that causes harm to the general interest of the country".

"All those responsible for publication are banned from publishing ... anything contradicting Islamic Sharia Law; anything inciting disruption of state security or public order or anything serving foreign interests that contradict national interests," the state news agency SPA said.

Saudi Arabia, which is a major US ally, follows an austere version of Sunni Islam and does not tolerate any form of dissent. It has no elected parliament and no political parties.

It has managed to stave off the unrest which has rocked the Arab world, toppling leaders in Tunisia and Egypt.

Facebook call unheeded

Almost no Saudis in major cities answered a Facebook call for protests on March 11, in the face of a massive security presence around the country.

Minority Shias have staged a number of street marches in the eastern province, where most of Saudi Arabia's oil fields are located.

Shias are said to represent between 10 and 15 per cent of the country's 18 million people and have long complained of discrimination, a charge the government denies.

Clerics played a major role in banning protests by issuing a religious edict which said that demonstrations are against Islamic law.

In turn, the royal order banned the "infringement of the reputation or dignity, the slander or the personal offence of the Grand Mufti or any of the country's senior clerics or statesmen".

King Abdullah has strengthened the security and religious police forces, which played a major role in banning protests in the kingdom.

According to the amendment published on Friday, punishments for breaking the media laws include a fine of half a million riyals ($133,000) and the shutting down of the publication that published the violation.

It also allows for banning the writer from contributing to any media.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...621233618.html

**Principe Alessandro** · May 01, 2011, 08:03 PM

Why we haven't started time ago to bomb the terrorist Saud dynasty?

**bigfootedfred** · May 01, 2011, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by Principe Alessandro

Why we haven't started time ago to bomb the terrorist Saud dynasty?

If we were to follow the official BS on libya, we have hit list of about 40 more nations to go.

**Principe Alessandro** · May 01, 2011, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by Emperor Barroso

If we were to follow the official BS on libya, we have hit list of about 40 more nations to go.

The end justifies the means.

**Babur** · May 01, 2011, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by Principe Alessandro

Why we haven't started time ago to bomb the terrorist Saud dynasty?

They have created plenty of problems in the world so I agree with you

Originally Posted by Lord Mov

A typical authoritarian state acting like a typical authoritarian state...

yet they're not denounced by the West

Originally Posted by Emperor Barroso

If we were to follow the official BS on libya, we have hit list of about 40 more nations to go.

Armies have finite resources

**hellheaven1987** · May 01, 2011, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by Babur

Armies have finite resources

I thought Indian Army is infinite?

**Babur** · May 01, 2011, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by hellheaven1987

I thought Indian Army is infinite?

Then we could punish Saudi Arabia for their poor treatment of South Asians

**hellheaven1987** · May 01, 2011, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by Babur

I wish

but sadly that is not the case

I thought India has infinite manpower?

**Armenum** · May 01, 2011, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by Babur

yet they're not denounced by the West

As long as they supply oil, they are very "democratic".....

**Babur** · May 01, 2011, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by Lord Mov

As long as they supply oil, they are very "democratic".....

nobody said they're democratic, just that they're "key allies"

Originally Posted by hellheaven1987

I thought India has infinite manpower?

well if so then India should send 12 stacks of armies to punish the Saudis for their appalling treatment of Indian workers

**hellheaven1987** · May 01, 2011, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by Babur

well if so then India should send 12 stacks of armies to punish the Saudis for their appalling treatment of Indian workers

Indian government should ask Naxalites to punish those filthy religious fanatics in desert - kill two birds in one stone.

**Armenum** · May 02, 2011, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by Babur

nobody said they're democratic, just that they're "key allies"

Thus, the West can look the other way for everything...

**Armenum** · May 01, 2011, 08:04 PM

A typical authoritarian state acting like a typical authoritarian state...

**Tiberios** · May 02, 2011, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by Lord Mov

A typical authoritarian state acting like a typical authoritarian state...

Indeed. Disgusting nontheless.

**Blaze86420** · May 01, 2011, 08:33 PM

Am I the only one who noticed all those guys in the picture are overweight?

**bigfootedfred** · May 01, 2011, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by Blaze86420

Am I the only one who noticed all those guys in the picture are overweight?

Fat and bored. Im sure they would love to crack some heads...

**Lord Romanus III** · May 01, 2011, 08:36 PM

They'll continue to get away with it, so long as the oil keeps coming. Until the civilians manage to start an actual rebellion, Western hands are generally tied.

**Babur** · May 01, 2011, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by Lord Romanus III

They'll continue to get away with it, so long as the oil keeps coming. Until the civilians manage to start an actual rebellion, Western hands are generally tied.

The West will be unable to intervene though

**Grouchio** · May 01, 2011, 08:59 PM

So yeah. It would be VERY STUPID of Sauds to incite rebellion! Look at the game Homefront! Prices skyrocketed into the $20 mark per gallon, and martial law was approved. And then North Korea invaded the US, yada yada.