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Saudi religious police boss condemns Twitter users | Saudi religious police boss condemns Twitter users |
(34 minutes later) | |
The head of Saudi Arabia's religious police has warned citizens against using Twitter, which is rising in popularity among Saudis. | The head of Saudi Arabia's religious police has warned citizens against using Twitter, which is rising in popularity among Saudis. |
Sheikh Abdul Latif Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh said anyone using social media sites - and especially Twitter - "has lost this world and his afterlife". | Sheikh Abdul Latif Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh said anyone using social media sites - and especially Twitter - "has lost this world and his afterlife". |
Twitter was the platform for those who did not have any platform, he said. | Twitter was the platform for those who did not have any platform, he said. |
His remarks reflect Riyadh's concern that Saudis use Twitter to discuss sensitive political and other issues. | His remarks reflect Riyadh's concern that Saudis use Twitter to discuss sensitive political and other issues. |
The conservative kingdom is believed to have seen the world's fastest increase in the uptake of Twitter, says the BBC's Sebastian Usher. | The conservative kingdom is believed to have seen the world's fastest increase in the uptake of Twitter, says the BBC's Sebastian Usher. |
'Losing battle' | 'Losing battle' |
The sheikh's comments echo those of the imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca in April who used his sermon - seen by millions on TV - to warn that Twitter was a threat to national unity, our correspondent says. | The sheikh's comments echo those of the imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca in April who used his sermon - seen by millions on TV - to warn that Twitter was a threat to national unity, our correspondent says. |
Earlier, Saudi Arabia's grand mufti, the kingdom's most senior Muslim cleric, had dismissed Twitter users as "fools". | |
These rhetorical attacks are part of a concerted offensive by the Saudi establishment on the social network site, our correspondent says. | These rhetorical attacks are part of a concerted offensive by the Saudi establishment on the social network site, our correspondent says. |
Many Saudis have seized on Twitter as the most immediate and effective way to open little windows into a traditionally opaque society. | Many Saudis have seized on Twitter as the most immediate and effective way to open little windows into a traditionally opaque society. |
Recent protests in the Eastern Province have been tweeted and images of human rights activists on trial have been uploaded directly from courtrooms, challenging many taboos. | |
In response, the authorities have mooted moves that could inhibit Twitter users by linking their online accounts to their Saudi ID numbers. | In response, the authorities have mooted moves that could inhibit Twitter users by linking their online accounts to their Saudi ID numbers. |
A number of web activists have been detained, including at least one for the alleged apostasy, a charge that could carry the death penalty. | A number of web activists have been detained, including at least one for the alleged apostasy, a charge that could carry the death penalty. |
However, some elements of the Saudi elite have also warned against moving too hard on social network users. | However, some elements of the Saudi elite have also warned against moving too hard on social network users. |
Billionaire businessman Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, who presents himself as a reformist, has described attempts to restrict social media as a losing battle. | Billionaire businessman Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, who presents himself as a reformist, has described attempts to restrict social media as a losing battle. |
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