Rosanna Al-Yami, a Saudi journalist associated with Lebanese Broadcasting Association’s Saudi network, has been sentenced with 60 lashes. Rosanna Al-Yami was charged against having connections with the production of provocative show. The Think Red Line, a talk show which mainly focuses on social taboos, was being aired through Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation’s Saudi network.
Few months back, a male guest named Mazen Abdul Jawad appeared on the show and bragged about his sex escalades. He boasted about his love for sex and how he had physical relationships with many females. Mazen Abdul Jawad, who is a sales person in an airline company, provoked the conservative government of Saudi Arabia to take legal action against him. The government arrested Abdul Jawad and sentenced him a five year jail and 1,000 lashes. He has been put on trial. Two friends of Jawad, who appeared with him on the show, were sentenced with two years of imprisonment. The cameraman who recorded the show was also sentenced for five months. The Saudi court has banned the transmission of LBC’s Saudi network in the Kingdom as charges of publicizing lust were made against it.
Rosanna Al-Yami was also presented in the court as the police believe she provides the material to help journalist make stories for the TV channel. Rosanna Al-Yami was sentenced with 60 lashes after a hearing of 90 minutes. Rosanna is the first female journalist who has been sentenced with lashes.
The show’s legal advisor, Suleiman AL-Jumeii, says he will make an appeal against the court’s decision in the special court which deals only with media cases. He also says that the police charges made against Rosanna include her involvement in the production of the program while she was not involved with the production of that particular episode in which Mezan Abdul Jawad appeared.
Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country where the shriya is followed strictly. The show and the Jawad’s bragging caused a serious uproar amongst the society. Jawad was arrested shortly after the program was aired. The Saudi police have also closed the channel’s Jeddah and Riyadh stations.
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