Netflix accused of cowardice
Netflix has been accused of “cowardice” for its decision to remove an episode of a satirical comedy show that was critical of Saudi Arabia, after being asked to do so by Saudi officials.
Human rights activists said Netflix was at risk of “facilitating the kingdom’s zero-tolerance policy on freedom of expression and assisting the authorities in denying people’s right to freely access information”.
Samah Hadid, Amnesty International’s Middle East campaigns director, said: “Saudi Arabia’s censorship of Netflix using a cybercrime law comes as no surprise and is further proof of a relentless crackdown on freedom of expression in the kingdom.”
In the episode of Patriot Act, which Netflix took down last week, US comedian Hasan Minhaj discussed the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Riyadh has charged 11 people with the murder, but has rejected any claims Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was involved.
Minhaj was also critical of the crown prince in the TV show.
Netflix only took the episode down from its own platform, and it is still available on YouTube in Saudi Arabia.
Human Rights Watch said “every artist whose work appears on Netflix should be outraged that the company has agreed to censor a comedy show because the thin-skinned royals in Saudi [Arabia] complained”.