JEDDAH, 18 May 2006 — Once again the wire services and international news agencies got it wrong by misquoting Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. The agencies had said that the king had banned publication of women’s pictures in the local media while talking to senior Gulf journalists in Riyadh on Monday. At that meeting, King Abdullah was airing his views on pictures published in the media.
He pointed out that the publication of provocative pictures of women was not in line with the Kingdom’s way of life.
The king said, “There are photographs published in some newspapers ... and one needs to think if one would want one’s daughter, sister or wife to appear like that. Of course, no one would.”
King Abdullah was referring to pictures which are used for the sake of sensationalism. At no point during his meeting with the editors did the king warn local media against publishing pictures of Saudi women, as reported by the news agencies. The wire agencies completely misinterpreted and misrepresented the king’s views.
A senior official from the Ministry of Culture and Information also denied reports that the king had banned publication of women’s pictures in the local media. “King Abdullah has not issued any royal decree against the publication of women’s pictures in Saudi media,” the official told Arab News.
The official, who heard Abdullah speaking to the journalists, said: “The king was referring to indecent pictures in general and not women’s pictures in particular. He didn’t allude to women at all.”
A Gulf editor who was present at the meeting said that the king was misquoted. “This is exactly what the king was advising against — sensationalism,” he said.
King Abdullah has always called for responsible and objective journalism. During his meetings with Saudi editors in chief the king has stated that he believed in constructive criticism and that he was a friend of the media. “King Abdullah didn’t talk about stopping publication of women’s pictures,” said the editor in chief of a leading Saudi daily who was present at the Riyadh meeting. “What’s being reported about what the king said is totally inaccurate,” he added.
“There is no such ban and the evidence is that all Saudi newspapers continue to publish pictures of Saudi as well as non-Saudi women,” he pointed out.
He added, “The king has actively involved women in the various delegations that accompanied him during his recent foreign tours. He also appeared in pictures with Saudi women, which have been published by the media.”
In his speech, King Abdullah also warned the media against “hurting the country” in comments that appeared to refer to a stock market crash that began earlier this year. “I ask you to go easy on ... unclear issues based on rumors and not to write things that hurt your country,” he said.
“Some correspondents just want to stand out and they go too far. If he has something, he should go to the relevant minister to clear up the picture. Others just want to laugh at misfortune and that’s not our way.”
During the meeting, King Abdullah also announced plans to launch a risk-free fund for individuals and families having low incomes. The fund will allow Saudi nationals to invest up to SR500,000 over two years, with the state shouldering any losses. The fund is aimed at individual investors, estimated to number at more than three million.
Answering a question, the king said he did not expect the standoff between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program to lead to a military showdown. He described the situation in violence-plagued Iraq as “frightening,” saying the ongoing killings there “sadden every person.” The king said there were “hidden hands” trying to stir up infighting in Iraq.
He hoped that Yemen would soon join the GCC. “Yemen is part of the Gulf,” he added.
