JEDDAH: The chief judge of the Jeddah Summary Court, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Othaim, said he expected the case of blasphemy against Al Arabiya news channel filed by a number of citizens to be referred to the Ministry of Culture and Information to consider.
He, however, told Arab News on Sunday the court would consider the case if it was referred back to it.
“The court does not expect to reopen the case but will no doubt do so if asked to,” he said. He expected the case to be taken to the Ministry of Culture and Information for consideration.
A lawsuit was filed in October against the popular news channel for allegedly ridiculing God, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Archangel Gabriel and the Sayings of the Prophet.
The court had earlier sent the case to the Ministry of Justice to decide whether the Kingdom’s media regulator, the Ministry of Culture and Information, should take up the case or whether it should be referred to a Shariah Court.
“The ministry has not received any information about such a case,” said a ministry source.
Al-Othaim also referred to the case of Mazen Abdul Jawad, the 32-year-old Saudi accused of violating community standards by bragging about his sex life in graphic detail on an LBC program.
Jawad had been sentenced to five years in prison and 1,000 lashes and has appealed the verdict.
“I expect the court of appeals to finish its work on this case within 15 days,” said Al-Othaim.
