(AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)
by Al Bawaba
Saudi Arabia is infamous for cracking down on journalists and media freedom. But the latest controversy over press control has raised eyebrows after journalist Jamal Khashoggi was banned from writing in newspapers after making disparaging remarks about US President-elect Donald Trump.
After Khashoggi voiced criticism of Trump at a Washington think-tank on 10 November, an official Saudi source was cited by the Saudi News Agency as saying that Khashoggi did not represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in his interviews or statements.
Khashoggi had suggested that Trump’s Middle East stance was often contradictory, especially regarding Iran. While Trump is vocally anti-Iranian, he supports President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian conflict. This ultimately bolsters Iranian regional control, making Iran’s long-standing emeny, Saudi Arabia, nervous, Khashoggi was reported as saying.
However, the Saudi government did not react well to the critique of the future US president and was quick to distance themselves from the statement: “The author Jamal Khashoggi does not represent the government of Saudi Arabia or its positions at any level,” said a ministry source quoted by the Saudi Press Agency.
Alongside this, Saudi authorities banned the journalist from writing in newspapers, appearing on TV and attending conferences. However, the decision has provoked backlash, with many taking to Twitter to condemn the muzzling of Kashoggi:
جمال خاشقجي تتفق أو تختلف معه قامة صحفية كبيرة وقرار منعه من الظهور الإعلامي والكتابي خطأ ..ورأيت أكثر الفرحين بالقرار المستعربون الإيرانيون
— موسى العمر (@MousaAlomar) November 27, 2016
Jamal Khashoggi, agree or disagree with him, he is a great journalist and the decision to ban him from media appearances or writing is wrong… The people who are happiest with the decision are Iranians who speak Arabic.
أنت فين يا جمال؟ @JKhashoggi إسكات الأصوات الحرة لن يغيبها أو يغيب الحقيقة
— Amr Hamzawy (@HamzawyAmr) December 4, 2016
Where are you Jamal? @JKhashoggi Silencing the voices of freedom will not make them go away or make the truth go away.
Khashoggi is a well-established Saudi writer and journalist. He has extensive political and media experience and has held the position of editor in chief of a number of Saudi newspapers, including the Arab Times and Al-Watan.
It is unclear why Saudi authorities reacted so harshly to Khashoggi’s comments on Trump.
Saudi Arabia and America have historically close ties, although these were strained during President Barack Obama’s presidency due to disagreements over policy. The election of Trump has generally pleased the Kingdom, as they see his conservative, Republican views as more in line with their own.
However, Trump has previously made threats to cut off US oil purchases from Saudi Arabia, striking fear into the hearts of Saudi oil companies. With Trump’s foreign policy approach unclear, it appears the Saudis are making every attempt to appease the new President and maintain their powerful alliance with the US.
