Saudi Arabia (Washington Insider Magazine) – In a significant move, a Saudi court has sentenced Abdul Aziz Al-Muzaini, a prominent Saudi comedy producer, to 13 years in prison and an additional 13-year travel ban. The charges against him include terrorism and promoting discord, marking another instance of the Kingdom’s stringent action against creative expression, despite its push to expand its entertainment industry.
Accusations Based on Netflix Content
Al-Muzaini, known for his work on the popular animated series “Masameer” on Netflix, disclosed in a video on X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube that the Saudi audiovisual commission had imposed charges against him two years ago. The accusations stem from language used in the series, such as “you donkey” and “may God curse you,” which authorities claimed amounted to criminal offenses. Additionally, Al-Muzaini and his company, Myrcott, were accused of supporting terrorism and promoting homosexuality by mocking the Daesh terror group.
Scrutiny of Past Social Media Activity
Authorities also scrutinized Al-Muzaini’s old tweets from 2010 to 2014, where he expressed frustration over the limited creative space in Saudi Arabia. In his video, he recounted being questioned by Saad Al-Suhaimi, chairman of the Saudi committee, about his decision to partner with Netflix instead of a local network like MBC. Al-Muzaini explained that he had secured permission from the General Authority for Audio-Visual Media to distribute the series without violating Saudi laws.
Efforts to Clear Charges
According to Middleeastmonitor, Following the charges, Al-Suhaimi reportedly contacted the head of the audiovisual authority, instructing her to distance herself from the case. He also warned Al-Muzaini about ongoing restrictions on entertainment creativity in the Kingdom, despite recent reforms and the introduction of events like the Riyadh season.
Attempted Reconciliation with Authorities
Al-Muzaini initially posted a video discussing his charges but deleted it within hours. He has since made efforts to reconcile with Saudi authorities, sharing posts praising Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and the head of the General Entertainment Authority, Turki Al-Sheikh. He insisted that his past tweets aligned with the Kingdom’s current policies.
Appeal and Current Status
Despite the court’s ruling, Al-Muzaini has not yet been arrested or imprisoned and continues to reside in Riyadh. He is actively appealing the court’s decision, although his efforts have not yet been successful. A new appeal is currently in process, as he continues to challenge the charges against him.
