Netflix Pulls An Episode Of A Show At The Request Of Saudi Arabia

According to this, Netflix pulled an episode of the “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj,” because it was critical of Saudi Arabia. Normally, a big company like that would say, “Who the heck cares?” but Netflix cares and caved at the request of Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission. The episode is no longer available for viewing in the country.

In the episode of “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj,” the American-born Muslim lashed Saudi Arabia after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

He specifically criticized Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and was also critical of the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen.

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

British newspaper the Financial Times said Netflix’s action came after the kingdom’s Communications and Information Technology Commission said the episode violated the cybercrime law.

I can’t imagine sitting in my living room and learning that I couldn’t watch an episode of a certain show because the government determined that I shouldn’t be able to.

Netflix pulls an episode of a TV show (Patriot Act) that was critical of Saudi Arabia at the request of Saudi Arabia.

One of Twitter’s largest shareholders is Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud. His stake is larger than that of Jack Dorsey.

Just saying.

— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) January 2, 2019

Netflix faces criticism after removing @hasanminhaj episode critical of #Saudi crown prince after a request from the kingdom. https://t.co/M1I0GItPxm

— AP Business News (@APBusiness) January 2, 2019

This isn’t the first time Netflix has removed episodes of a show at the request of a foreign government. The Patriot Act which shows the reality of Saudi Arabia Kingdom couldn’t digest the actual facts. https://t.co/JJ3qL4WJut

— Kent Pearson (@KentSPearson) January 2, 2019

Netflix has a removed an episode of Hasan Minhaj’s show “Patriot Act” in Saudi Arabia at the request of the government.

In the episode, Minhaj criticizes the Saudi government for its role in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. https://t.co/T1sBGA2a7z

— NPR (@NPR) January 2, 2019

This is insanity.@Netflix pulls ‘Patriot Act’ episode in Saudi Arabia after it criticized official account of Khashoggi killing: https://t.co/BaYKmUxq60

Seems @hasanminhaj is doing something right. I hope this drives more people to watch his excellent show.

— Ali A. Rizvi (@aliamjadrizvi) January 2, 2019

Even though @netflix caved to Saudi pressure and pulled @hasanminhaj’s @patriotact Saudi Arabia episode, anyone can still watch them on @YouTube:

First one: https://t.co/KOaXr7pevp

And the follow-up: https://t.co/3sisGyQPM6#Khashoggi

— Karen Attiah (@KarenAttiah) January 1, 2019

It’s just crazy to see how much influence a foreign government can have on an entity like Netflix. It’s kinda scary, really.

h/t Yahoo