Fatwa on TV programs misunderstood, says Saudi cleric

Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Sept.15 : A Saudi cleric who reportedly issued a fatwa on television programs that he deemed controversial, has said that edict has been misinterpreted and used out of its context.

The Gulf News quoted Shaikh Saleh Al Luhaidan, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Council, as saying that his controversial fatwa permitting the killing of the owners of television networks broadcasting "depravation and debauchery" was wrongly interpreted.

"What I said about the killing of the owners of these channels is that it is permissible for the authorities to kill them in accordance with a judicial ruling if they do not stop such evil transmissions," he said.

He said that his fatwa was meant for satellite TV channels that promote sorcery and transmit topics calling for polytheism and was issued four months ago when he called on owners of specific channels to repent to God and to stop broadcasting their immoral materials.

He urged the owners of these channels not to use their media to broadcast programs that promote black magic and indecency.

Meanwhile, another senior Saudi cleric, Shaikh Saleh Al Fozan told the Al Madina daily on Sunday that astrologers on Arab television should face the death penalty.

"Sorcerers who appear on satellite channels have committed a great crime ... and the Muslim consensus is that the apostate's punishment is death by the sword," he said.

ANI