Indian-origin comic’s Netflix show episode pulled in Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON: Netfilx pulled an episode of the comedy show Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj from its streaming service in Saudi Arabia following complaints from officials in the kingdom.
The episode of the Indianorgin comic’s news-comedy programme criticised the country over the slaying of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year at the country’s consulate in Turkey. Khashoggi had been an outspoken critic of the kingdom and of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The kingdom has since acknowledged publicly that the reporter, who was a permanent US resident, died in its custody.
In a statement to media, Netflix confirmed that it had pulled the episode in Saudi Arabia last week after the country’s Communications and Information Technology Commission asked for the removal, alleging violation of anti-cyber crime law. “We strongly support artistic freedom and removed this episode only in Saudi Arabia after we received a valid legal request - and to comply with local law,” it said.
In the episode, first aired in the US in October, Minhaj said, “Now would be a good time to reassess our relationship with Saudi Arabia. And I mean that as a Muslim and as an American.” He specifically criticised the crown prince, and hit out at the kingdom for its involvement in the Yemen war.
The episode is still available in Saudi Arabia on Youtube.
Karen Attiah, Khashoggi’s editor at The Washington Post, said Netflix’s action was “quite outrageous.”
Minhaj, 33, has seen his profile rise steadily. His routines combine personal history and pointed political commentary wrapped in edgy topical humour.
In 2014, he became senior correspondent on Comedy Central’s popular The Daily Show, and in 2017 was the featured speaker at the White House Correspondents’ dinner. Patriot Act debuted in October 2018.
Minhaj has not commented publicly on the removal of the episode. But in an interview published in The Atlantic last month, he spoke of the fear he felt after creating it. “There was a lot of discussion in my family about not doing it. I’ve just come to personal and spiritual terms with what the repercussions are,” he said.
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