Saudis close TV ‘Sex show’ offices

Chris Forrester

Lebanese broadcaster LBC had its Saudi Arabia offices in Jeddah closed on Sunday by Saudi officials, acting on the instructions of the Saudi Deputy Prime Minister. The action follows the controversy over LBC’s broadcasting of its ‘Bold Red Line’ show that included a racy interview with a Saudi citizen who talked about his sex life.

The show outraged moderate Saudi citizens, and the individual, plus two others who also appeared, have all been arrested. The channel remains on air, and while the original access to clips on YouTube have now been stopped more than 400,000 downloads took place.

Abdul Jawad, now under arrest, is an employee of Saudi Airlines in his 30s. He appeared on the provocative weekly talk show in mid-July discussing how he first had sex at 14 with a neighbour, used sex aids and liked to use his cellphone's Bluetooth function to successfully pick up women.