JEDDAH: Sheikh Saleh bin Muhammad Al-Laheedan, chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council, yesterday denounced the furor created by certain sections of the media, which he says quoted him out of context.
“I did not know that somebody would vilify me by cutting some words from the beginning or middle or end of a sentence to serve his vested interests. I did not expect this because I was not seeking to harm anybody,” Al-Laheedan told Saudi Television, adding that the statement was made during a radio interview four months ago.
Sheikh Al-Laheedan also pointed out that his comments were related to magic, creed and the morals of the general masses, and that he never thought foreign television channels would distort his words.
“I spoke about TV channels because I was not happy with the programs aired by many of them. During my talk, I advised broadcasters to fear God and that they should not broadcast programs that corrupt people’s faith, including those that show black magic and promote vulgarity and immorality,” he said.
Al-Laheedan said he made the statement while talking on Radio Qur’an’s “Noorun Aladdarb” program, adding that it was recorded in the beginning of June in Riyadh. “I advised broadcasters and viewers,” he said. “If those who are responsible for these channels don’t refrain from telecasting programs which pave the way for immorality and affect people’s beliefs and lead to bad things like magic, then such people should be punished,” he added.
“If they are not deterred by the punishment and continue corrupting people, then it would be possible for the relevant authorities to kill them following a judicial process,” he said.
“It is well known that a judge would not come out with his sword and kill whoever he wants. Rather, the authorities would file a lawsuit against the person with the public prosecutor. The judge would then hear the case and issue a verdict.” He added that the Kingdom’s judicial system consists of several steps and that defendants are allowed to appeal verdicts. “Nobody should think I would make a hasty statement and that I had given the verdict to kill the owners of TV channels.”
He added that he had also advised broadcasters against showing comedies that do not conform to the sanctity of Ramadan, and ridicule Islamic scholars and officials of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. He added that he had warned that broadcasters would be responsible for the sin of people corrupted by them.
In his response yesterday, the Kingdom’s judicial chief spoke about his long-standing experience of the Kingdom’s judiciary, and his close relationship with the Saudi leadership and top officials.
Al-Laheedan also emphasized the uprightness of Saudi justice, which he said is based on the Qur’an, the Sunnah, the views of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the unanimous opinions of Islamic scholars from the first three generations after the birth of Islam.
He added that he has nearly 40 years experience in the Saudi judiciary and that he is the oldest Islamic scholar in the country.
