Netflix blocks comedy show in Saudi Arabia over criticism of crown prince

An episode of Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj has been blocked in the country

Netflix has blocked a comedy show in Saudi Arabia that is critical of the country's Mohammed bin Salman. As first reported by The Finacial Times, the episode of Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj is no longer viewable in the country, after the Saudi government's Communications and Information Technology Commission complained that it violated its cybercrime laws. In the show, comedian Minhaj refers to the death of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed at Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul in October of last year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApjzglBDhJ0 “Now would be a good time to reassess our relationship with Saudi Arabia, and I mean that as a Muslim and an American," says Minhaj. The episode was first released in October,but was pulled in Saudi Arabia last week. It remains available in the rest of the world. “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," said Netflix in a statement. Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj is a seven-episode political comedy show, presented by the eponymous comedian. Topics covered in other episodes include US immigration policy, freedom of speech, and online retail giant Amazon. In an interview with The Atlantic last year, Minhaj spoke about being concerned with the potential repercussions of criticising the Saudi government. “There was a lot of discussion in my family about not doing it,” said the comedian. “I’ve just come to personal and spiritual terms with what the repercussions are.”