Arab TV channel owners concerned over fatwa calling for their murder

Riyadh: Owners of Arab satellite channels have expressed concern over a fatwa by the chairman of the Saudi Judicial Council, Shaikh Saleh Al Luhaidan authorising the murder of owners of Arabic satellite TV channels that broadcast programmes considered immoral.

The fatwa came during a programme transmitted live by the Holy Quran Radio on Wednesday in which he said "satellite channels caused the deviance of thousands of people as they show seduction, obscenity and vulgarity".

He added: "Certainly it is permitted to kill those who encourage corrupt beliefs."

He was answering a listener's questions during the daily radio programme Light in the Path, about Islam's view on satellite TV channels that broadcast "bad programmes" during Ramadan.

The fatwa sparked controversy on websites while owners of TV channels expressed their concern.

Gulf News tried to contact Shaikh Al Luhaidan but all attempts failed. Shaikh Abdul Mohsen Bin Nasser Al Obaikan, adviser in the Ministry of Justice and member of the Shura Council, criticised the fatwa, saying it would lead to disorder.