The Ministry of Culture and Information has appealed to Saudi owners and investors in satellite channels to uphold their sense of national responsibility and refrain from directly or indirectly harming the Kingdom and the Islamic creed it adheres to. Dr. Abdullah Al-Jasser, Undersecretary at the ministry, said this self-control comes within the responsibility a citizen owes to the nation. Al-Jasser's comments in the wake of controversy created by the Saudi braggart who boasted of his sexual exploits on LBC satellite channel recently. The ministry has already shut the LBC offices in Jeddah and Riyadh. The official said the programs aired by these satellite channels sometimes infringe upon the Islamic creed (Aqeedah) and corrupt public morals causing great harm to the Kingdom and its citizens. He said the Kingdom keeps away from fanning fanaticism and sectarianism. The satellite channels, he said, should bolster the unity of the Saudi society and refrain from airing programs contravening the social morals. Al-Jasser said the Kingdom renders noble services to develop and maintain the two Holy Mosques without considering any financial aspects. The Kingdom, he said, always seeks to enable the Haj and Umrah pilgrims to perform their Islamic rites with ease and comfort. Also, it establishes cultural centers in the Arab and Muslim countries so as to benefit all the Muslims worldwide. This includes the continuous support and services and financial and non-financial assistance to the Arab and Muslim countries. Owners and investors in satellite channels, Al-Jassser said, should see to it that their managements are doing the tasks given to them in earnest and not engaged in campaigns that serve ideas hostile to the Arabs and Muslims or promote Western ideas and beliefs that are striving to penetrate into the Arab and Muslim societies.
