- JEDDAH: Sheikh Salman Al-Odah, a Saudi religious scholar, issued a statement on Twitter last Friday stating that his popular television show on MBC1 channel was canceled and that he has not been informed why.
“I have been told that Al-Haya Kalima has been stopped and do not know the reasons or the body behind this decision,” he said.
On Sunday Al-Odah elaborated by saying that he has been told that the program has been stopped by the Ministry of Culture and Information. He added that he does not have a contract with MBC and is now receiving offers from different channels that he is considering.
Al-Odah linked the decision to a recent discussion about the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, and the Jeddah floods.
Minister of Culture and Information Abdul Aziz Khoja has hit back on the claims and posted a message on Twitter saying that though he is a fan of Al-Odah and considers him a friend and a brother, he should not blame his ministry without evidence.
He further called on Al-Odah to be accurate before blaming his ministry for every small or big thing that takes place.
Al-Hayat Kalima (or “Life is a Word”) is a weekly program that discusses issues discussed in forums and attempts to find solutions. Al-Odah speaks on the program that is presented by Saudi presenter Fahad Al-Sa’awi.



