[Lady Sidhe]

Saudi Arabia's highest religious authority issued a "fatwa"
or religious edict Thursday banning Muslims from watching
Qatar-based al-Jazeera TV. The edict issued by Sheik
Saleh al-Fawzan, a member of the kingdom's committee of
ulemas, described the Arab satellite channel as "Zionist
television," which hosts "so-called reformists who have
a podium for airing their poisonous ideas." "There is
no need to set up satellite dishes to watch the news on
al-Jazeera ... Saudis can have access to all the news
and information through Saudi newspapers, radio and
television," the edict said. It cautioned Muslims
against "introducing evil to their homes and destroying
them by watching al-Jazeera, which is a provocative and
evil channel hosting people who interpret religion as
they please. "Watching al-Jazeera is an evil in itself,"
it added. The popular satellite TV channel hosts Saudi
opposition figures and activists calling for political
and social reforms in the Muslim conservative kingdom.