Saudi Arabia's English-language Arab News newspaper reported last week on a "warning" issued by the king of the desert kingdom and his court to all government employees that they had best keep criticism of state policies to themselves.
As the September 14 report states: "Saudi Arabia yesterday warned government employees against opposing state policies and programs through statements, speeches or media talk shows, saying such violators would be punished in accordance with the law." The monarchy's warning, issued at a cabinet meeting ostensibly chaired by King Fahd himself, "instructed the authorities to take action against civilian and military employees if they stand against the Kingdom’s policies."
The cabinet statement, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency, said: "The relevant law will be applied to any employee - civilian or military - who violates his duty of neutrality or allegiance to public service by opposing state policies and programs... through direct or indirect participation in preparing statements or memorandums or speeches in groups or signing any of them."
The Saudi statement specified that state employees may not take part in "media talk shows or internal or external contacts or meetings or [cover] up such participation with the aim of opposing state policies and programs."
As the September 14 report states: "Saudi Arabia yesterday warned government employees against opposing state policies and programs through statements, speeches or media talk shows, saying such violators would be punished in accordance with the law." The monarchy's warning, issued at a cabinet meeting ostensibly chaired by King Fahd himself, "instructed the authorities to take action against civilian and military employees if they stand against the Kingdom’s policies."
The cabinet statement, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency, said: "The relevant law will be applied to any employee - civilian or military - who violates his duty of neutrality or allegiance to public service by opposing state policies and programs... through direct or indirect participation in preparing statements or memorandums or speeches in groups or signing any of them."
The Saudi statement specified that state employees may not take part in "media talk shows or internal or external contacts or meetings or [cover] up such participation with the aim of opposing state policies and programs."