Decision is over article considered insulting to Islamic faith
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has ordered the suspension and trial of the editor in chief and a prominent writer in a key local newspaper over an article involving alleged religious insults, a Saudi daily reported on Tuesday.
Fahd Al Akran, editor in chief of the mass circulation Arabic language daily Almadina and Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Suwaid, a well known writer in the paper, were suspended with immediate effect, Sharq Arabic language newspaper said, quoted informed sources in the Gulf Kingdom.
"Both have been referred to the judicial committee in the ministry of culture and information for publishing an article believed to have infringed on the tenets of our religion," it said, adding that the article is titled :"The civilian concept of deity."
"The sources affirmed that the Custodian of the two Holy Shrines (King Abdullah) expressed resentment at that article because infringing on the tenets of our religion is a red line and that he always stresses that freedom of expression does not in any way means infringement on the Islamic faith, on which the country is based," the paper added without giving further details.
© Emirates 24|7 2011
