Jeddah: Saudi Arabia s first ever Arabic tabloid Shams has run into serious trouble in just three months after hitting the stands.
It was shut down for an indefinite period by the Ministry of Information and Culture Monday for committing the journalistic stupidity of reprinting the blasphemous cartoons which have infuriated the Muslims all over the world.
It s a Saudi newspaper and we were the first country to set a boycott campaign against Danish products because of the cartoons. It wasn t a wise step for them to re-publish the cartoons, not in this time or any other time, said Abu-Bakur Baqader, consultant at the Ministry of Culture and Information.
The tabloid reprinted the cartoons about three weeks back next to articles urging Saudis to take action against Denmark where they first appeared. It justified the reprinting of the sacrilegious cartoons by publishing opinion from some clerics saying information which is offensive to Muslims can still be printed if it helps acquaint them with an issue. There is no such thing called justification when it comes to clear cut known things, retorted Sheikh Abdullah Al-Musleh, vice president of the Islamic studies college in Riyadh.
Whatever the motive was behind reprinting the cartoons did not seem acceptable to the authorities at the Ministry of Information and Culture.
Abu-Bakur Baqader said that if the tabloid hadn t crossed the red line, higher officials wouldn t have suspended it.
There should be a sense of logic in these situations or else things will end as they did with Shams newspaper, he said.
The ministry shut down the tabloid, a sister concern of Al-Hayat Arabic daily, until further notice. An inquiry has also been ordered.
Dar Al Hayat publishers of the tabloid Shams refused to give any statements or information whether it will be back in print or not. Saad Al-Matrafy, Jeddah Bureau chief of Shams, also refused comment.
Shams became one of the few newspapers in the Arab world to reprint the cartoons. The tabloid, which is aimed at the country s young people, said it was doing so to mobilize the campaign in Saudi Arabia against Denmark.
Secretary General of the cultural literature club here Muhammad Ali Qudus noted that two other newspapers were shut down in Yemen and a Jordanian editor has been arrested for reprinting the cartoons.
Qudus assured that Shams is a popular publication and has fans all over the kingdom because of its different modern topics. They crossed the red line. When it comes to religion and politics everything changes. There was no need to re-print them, he said. He, however, sounded optimistic that the newspaper may get back on track.
Sheikh Asem Al-Hakeem, from Jafar Al Tayyar Mosque here, condemned the newspaper for re-printing the cartoons, noting that this shows stupidity and ignorance.
Saudi Arabia was the first to protest about these cartoons and they were the first to hold a campaign against Danish goods. Then we find ourselves in a position where one of the country s own publications having the cartoons. This is non-sense and completely un-acceptable, he said.
Al-Bathi, spokesman for the International Committee for the Support of the Final Prophet, said They wanted to do something similar to what Yemeni and Jordanian papers did. But just the idea of republishing it is not a good one from a Muslim perspective.
Shams is a low-circulation tabloid. The newspaper is known for writing on many topics that are different from any other newspapers. They are also known for using slang Arabic language.
It first appeared in December and became an instant hit with the country s youth for its daring style and its focus on social and economic issues. It has tackled issues in fresh ways such as the role of women in Saudi Arabia as well as reporting on entertainment, culture and sport in a style tailored for the young. Some of its articles have stirred controversy by going against the prevailing views.
In past interviews Battal Al-Qaus, editor in chief of Shams, said that the newspaper is different from others, since it s the country s first to target young people.
Qaus assured that the newspaper has attracted experienced journalists next to recruiting talented online and message board writers.
The Saudi Gazette got hold of Qaus, but he refused to give any statements concerning the suspension.
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Musleh, vice president of the Islamic studies college in Riyadh, wanted the editor who re-printed the cartoons to be punished as well as the officials who allowed the cartoons to go in print. When there is no responsibility that means that the world will go through major chaos, he said.
By Shroog Talal Radain
The Saudi Gazette 2006
