An episode of Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj that questioned Saudi Arabias role in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggiandcriticized Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salmanhas been removed from Netflix only in Saudi Arabia. The episode is available in other countries as well as the series YouTube page, which is still accessible in Saudi Arabia, NPR reports. A Netflix spokesperson told Reuters the Saudi government has not yet sought to remove those clips from YouTube.
On Monday, Netflix said it removed the episode after several weeks because the show broke an anti-cyber crime law in the Middle Eastern country barring the production, preparation, transmission, or storage of material impinging on public order, religious values, public morals, and privacy, through the information network or computers.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Netflix said: We strongly support artistic freedom and removed this episode only in Saudi Arabia after we had received a valid legal request and to comply with local law.
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During the episode, Minhaj provided a quick overview of the Khashoggi killing, which the Saudi government initially denied before confessing to the journalists death by saying it was an accident after a fistfight.
This is the most unbelievable cover story since Blake Shelton won Sexiest Man Alive. Are you kidding me? Hes the fourth sexiest judge on The Voice, Minhaj said, pinning Khashoggis death firmly bin Salmans regime.
According to the New York Times, journalist activists labeled Saudi Arabias anti-cyber crime law as an all-encompassing instrument for the Saudi government tocensor virtually any speech online.
The authorities have previously used anti cyber-crime laws to silence dissidents, creating an environment of fear for those who dare to speak up in Saudi Arabia, Amnestys Middle East director of campaigns Samah Hadid said in a statement to Reuters.
By bowing to the Saudi Arabian authorities demands, Netflix is in danger of facilitating the Kingdoms zero-tolerance policy on freedom of expression and assisting the authorities in denying peoples right to freely access information.
This isnt the first time Netflix has pulled episodes within a foreign nation following a request by the government: The streaming service previously pulled Disjointed, Cooking on HighandThe Legend of 420 in Singapore due to each series positive portrayal of drug use.