Netflix slammed for removing episode of comedy show criticising Saudi Arabia

Megan White2 January 2019

Netflix has been slammed after removing an episode of a comedy show which criticised Saudi Arabia from its website.

It took down the second episode of “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj” from its Saudia Arabia site after the country’s Communications and Information Technology Commission allegedly asked them to.

During the satirical episode, Mr Minhaj discussed the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and criticised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In the episode, the comedian also said he feels Saudi Arabia “does not represent our values” as Muslims and urged Silicon Valley to stop taking money from the kingdom.

Roasting: Comedian Hasan Minhaj

Mr Minhaj quipped: “The Saudis were struggling to explain his disappearance: they said he left the consulate safely, then they used a body double to make it seem like he was alive.

“At one point they were saying he died in a fist fight, Jackie Chan-style. They went through so many explanations.”

But Netflix defended its decision and said they received a “valid legal request” to take down the episode, according to the Financial Times.

A spokesperson said: “We strongly support artistic freedom worldwide and only removed this episode in Saudi Arabia after we had received a valid legal request — and to comply with local law.”

The episode is still available to watch on YouTube.

Mr Minhaj criticised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the episode 
REUTERS

Mr Minhaj, 33, was senior correspondent on The Daily Show from 2014 to 2018 before landing his own spot on Netflix.

The Indian American was also the featured speaker at the 2017 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, branding Donald Trump “liar in chief.”

Human Rights Watch said artists whose work is on Netflix “should be outraged.”

A spokesman told The Guardian: “Every artist whose work appears on Netflix should be outraged that the company has agreed to censor a comedy show because the thin-skinned royals in Saudi complained about it.

“Netflix’s claim to support artistic freedom means nothing if it bows to demands of government officials who believe in no freedom for their citizens – not artistic, not political, not comedic.”

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