decide to defy film protests

Press, 17 April 1980, Page 9

decide to defy film protests

ultery in 1977 has created diplomatic tension between Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands as well as Britain where the film was transmitted last Wednesday. Saudi Arabia formally ask- ' ed the Dutch Cabinet to prei vent the programme, billed I as a documentary, from being * shown, and the Saudi Ambas- . sador in the Hague (Sheikh i Ziyad Shawaf) said at the week-end that Dutch - Saudi [relations would suffer if it [went out.

However in a newspaper interview published yesterday, the ambassador said his country would not impose a retaliatory oil boycott on the Netherlands, which gets onethird of its oil from Saudi Arabia, and that bilateral trade would not be affected.

In Canberra, the Acting Prime Minister (Mr Doug Anthony), has told Parliament that although there was little censorship in Australia, the media was relied upon to act in the national interest. -

Mr Anthony said that in this context he had sent a lengthy telex message to the management of the Seven television network asking it

to take Australia’s trade and economic relations ■. with Saudi Arabia into accctint in deciding whether to shdfw the controversial documentary. Mr Anthony asked the”.network to take into.account the fact the film was grossly Offensive to the Saudi Arabian Government and the Saudi royal family. “I do not believe there is [any doubt that showing the . [film in Australia will harm. ; relations between Australia and Saudi Arabia.” he said ;in the telex. In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 'the general secretariat of the ilslamic Press will file a suit I against In dependent Televisiion over the film charging it 'with malicious ) attacks iagainst Islam and Saudi Ara-, bia. . - K;’ - ‘’Ktk-‘-‘ ' The “Arab News” newspaper quoted the secretariat’s assistant general secretary (Sheikh Ali Hafiz) as saying proceedings would be taken in London soon.

Sheikh Alt, Who sent a protest tdlegram to the British Ambassador for Saudi Arabia (Mr James Craig), said the film was ■ a "deliberate affront against Muslim beliefs and Islamic principles.”