RIYADH, 21 July 2007 -- Abdullah Al-Jasser, undersecretary at the Ministry of Culture and Information, has criticized Saudi owners of satellite channels for promoting regionalism in a recent press statement. He charged them with promoting narrow-minded regionalism.

He urged the television channel establishments not to deteriorate to the level of cheap commercialism but to play a significant role in the intellectual and cultural integration of the people.

"The freedom of media means the freedom of man, but, unfortunately, this freedom has become nominal after the economic and sectarian interests gained the upper hand," Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper quoted Al-Jasser as saying. The undersecretary added that the dignity of media begins with the dignity of expression which should be realistic while maintaining the general taste of a unified people. It should never go close to fanatical sentiments, regional bias and sectarianism, he cautioned.

He affirmed that, "giving the television channels names such as the Al-Qassim Channel or Jeddah Channel is nothing but unwelcome narrow regionalism, which every loyal citizen should condemn."

The official continued that the founder of the Kingdom, the late King Abdul Aziz, unified the Kingdom on the principle of brotherhood of the people and the unity of the society with loyalty to the land and the state. The people have been following this path since then.

He added that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has repeatedly said that the Saudi authorities, since the time of the founding of the Kingdom, has never distinguished between one region from the other and every particle of the soil of the nation is dear to us and every subject of the country is a dear son amid its dear sons."

The official urged Saudi channel businessmen to be committed to their national responsibilities and thus make their investments worthy of this nation. He said that their investments should help strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and unity amid its people and keep them away from sectarian and regional sentiments.

© Arab News 2007