The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), Saudi Arabia's telecom regulator, has shut down three websites found to be violating a Royal decree limiting the issuance of religious edicts to the Board of Senior Ulema and authorized scholars, authorities said Saturday. Saad Al-Shihri, a CITC official, was quoted as saying by a news agency that the regulator began blocking the websites Wednesday. He said authorities also have drawn up a list of clerics whose services break the decree, and that they have been sent messages “warning them to comply.” Among those breaking the ban are clerics who offer fatwas via text messages, some for as much as $3 per message, Al-Shihri was quoted as saying. Regulators have already started barring such services. Sultan Al-Malik, CITC spokesman, told Saudi Gazette that the regulator will block any website that violates the country's regulations. The three website that have been reportedly blocked include the one belonging to a famous Syrian cleric, Mohammad Al-Munajid, and the Al-Qadhi website. Other famous Islamic website like Islam Today, supervised by Shaikh Salman Al-Audah, removed its Fatwa services soon after Al-Munajid's website was blocked. Last month, authorities issued the first public reprimand following the Royal decree, telling a scholar to stop giving unauthorized edicts after he called for a boycott of a supermarket chain that employs women as cashiers.
