Saudi Bans Leading Shia Cleric from TV
Harold's List
Saudi Information Agency
Washington DC – (SIA) ...While the Saudi government warns about marginalizing the Sunni Arab minority in Iraq, it has banned a leading Saudi Shia cleric from appearing on Saudi TV, [according to] sources [that] told SIA and [were] confirmed by the office of [Shia cleric] Saffar.
The leading Shia Arab cleric, Shaikh Hassan Mosa Al-Saffar, was banned from appearing on Saudi TV Sunday. The taped sermon if aired would have been the first appearance ever of a Shia cleric on Saudi TV.
The Saudi government-owned and controlled broadcast and printed media both exercise a total ban on Shia clerics, their speeches and sermons, unlike those of Wahhabi clerics. The ban dates back to 1967 when TV was established. The same ban applies to government radio.
Saudi TV and radio religious programming is limited to Saudi and non-Saudi Sunni Wahhabi clerics. Non-Wahhabi Sunnis are occasionally allowed. Many non-Saudi clerics appear on Saudi TV and as guests or hosts of religious programming. Egyptian, Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian and other nationalities have hosted religious programming on Saudi TV over the past 40 years but none were Shia Muslims. Some of these clerics are extremists and even are supporters of terror groups. Among those is Lebanese cleric AbdulRahman Demushqyah who lives in Riyadh, and Egyptian Mohamed Al-Tarhooni who lives in Madina. Both are employees of the Saudi government.
Saudi media including government TV and radio, and local newspapers are banned from covering Shia Arab religious and social activities and holidays. The massive celebration of Ashura is not reported. Ashura in Saudi Arabia is [among] the largest religious activities in the Arab Gulf States and is the second largest in Saudi Arabia itself after Hajj, in terms of the number of participants. The celebration includes thousands of gatherings and speeches, art exhibitions, blood drives, plays, processions and chest beatings. A near total shutdown of business is exercised by the Shia population during Ashura.
Another celebration banned from media coverage is Graygaan. It is a social celebration in the middle of Ramadan occurring this Wednesday and celebrated by Shia and indigenous Sunnis of the Eastern province. The celebration resembles Halloween and involved children singing in traditional clothing and collecting gifts from their neighbors.
Shia Arabs constitute approximately 20% of [Saudi] citizens, and are located in the Eastern Province, Najran, Madina, and Wadi Fatema. They face widespread discrimination and marginalization across government agencies. They remain without political or religious representation in any government branch.
Repeated attempts to reach the religious programming department at the Saudi TV in Riyadh [for comment] were unsuccessful.
Saudi Information Agency
Washington DC – (SIA) ...While the Saudi government warns about marginalizing the Sunni Arab minority in Iraq, it has banned a leading Saudi Shia cleric from appearing on Saudi TV, [according to] sources [that] told SIA and [were] confirmed by the office of [Shia cleric] Saffar.
The leading Shia Arab cleric, Shaikh Hassan Mosa Al-Saffar, was banned from appearing on Saudi TV Sunday. The taped sermon if aired would have been the first appearance ever of a Shia cleric on Saudi TV.
The Saudi government-owned and controlled broadcast and printed media both exercise a total ban on Shia clerics, their speeches and sermons, unlike those of Wahhabi clerics. The ban dates back to 1967 when TV was established. The same ban applies to government radio.
Saudi TV and radio religious programming is limited to Saudi and non-Saudi Sunni Wahhabi clerics. Non-Wahhabi Sunnis are occasionally allowed. Many non-Saudi clerics appear on Saudi TV and as guests or hosts of religious programming. Egyptian, Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian and other nationalities have hosted religious programming on Saudi TV over the past 40 years but none were Shia Muslims. Some of these clerics are extremists and even are supporters of terror groups. Among those is Lebanese cleric AbdulRahman Demushqyah who lives in Riyadh, and Egyptian Mohamed Al-Tarhooni who lives in Madina. Both are employees of the Saudi government.
Saudi media including government TV and radio, and local newspapers are banned from covering Shia Arab religious and social activities and holidays. The massive celebration of Ashura is not reported. Ashura in Saudi Arabia is [among] the largest religious activities in the Arab Gulf States and is the second largest in Saudi Arabia itself after Hajj, in terms of the number of participants. The celebration includes thousands of gatherings and speeches, art exhibitions, blood drives, plays, processions and chest beatings. A near total shutdown of business is exercised by the Shia population during Ashura.
Another celebration banned from media coverage is Graygaan. It is a social celebration in the middle of Ramadan occurring this Wednesday and celebrated by Shia and indigenous Sunnis of the Eastern province. The celebration resembles Halloween and involved children singing in traditional clothing and collecting gifts from their neighbors.
Shia Arabs constitute approximately 20% of [Saudi] citizens, and are located in the Eastern Province, Najran, Madina, and Wadi Fatema. They face widespread discrimination and marginalization across government agencies. They remain without political or religious representation in any government branch.
Repeated attempts to reach the religious programming department at the Saudi TV in Riyadh [for comment] were unsuccessful.
posted by Marko at 10/17/2005 06:17:00 PM
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