The British "Middle East Eye" website published an article in which the writer Ahmed Rashid Saeed explained that the media propaganda in Saudi Arabia aims to demonize Islam and distort the Palestinian cause.
The article stated that a recent report by Saudi 24 News Channel, indicated that the Muslim Brotherhood supports the southern separatists in the Yemeni city of Aden, which is an incorrect claim, as it is known that the separatists are supported by the anti-Brotherhood United Arab Emirates.
He added that the Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas" was described in the Saudi media as a terrorist organization accused of holding the people of Gaza hostage to implement its program.
The report pointed out that these media campaigns aim to mislead, control and distort reality in an attempt to protect Saudi interests.
Strict control
The writer mentioned that freedom of expression is lacking in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where the internet is closely monitored, and books, newspapers, magazines, films, television and social media are strictly controlled.
To make matters worse - according to the article - is the official position that any kind of criticism of the government is seen as a dangerous and destabilizing "sin".
The writer reported that dozens of prominent clergy and intellectuals were arrested in an incident that Human Rights Watch described as a "coordinated crackdown on dissent," highlighting that Saudi Arabia ranks 170 out of 180 countries in the 2020 World Press Freedom Index.
In this oppressive atmosphere, the professional media has been replaced by propaganda that serves the system and enhances its worldview and distorts its competitors at the local, regional and international levels.
Trolls
The writer clarified that social media has not escaped the Saudi campaign that was launched against media freedom, and interference and constant monitoring by the government have frustrated the ability of social media to facilitate political communication in the Kingdom, and Twitter in particular is a threat that must be monitored and used to control the opposition .
While Twitter periodically deletes accounts linked to this misinformation network, the Saudi “trolling army” is still strong and is still manipulating “likes” and “retweeting” to spread propaganda and give a false impression about the popularity of Saudi politics.
The writer pointed out that the motive behind Saudi propaganda is based on the idea that the Muslim Brotherhood and the so-called "political Islam" are the kingdom's enemies.
Islamophobia
According to the author, the Saudi authorities have become obsessed with Islam itself, as Al Arabiya channel incites against mosques and other Islamic institutions in the West, claiming that they are dangerous and linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, and that they are funded by Qatar or Turkey. Al-Arabiya also classified the entire Islamic presence in Europe as linked to "terrorist" affiliations, according to the author.
The writer stated that Saudi Arabia needs its propaganda network now more than ever, as it is still fighting a bitter struggle with Iran for regional hegemony, as it has resorted to Israel to obtain support under the concept of "the enemy of your enemy is your friend"; However, this step could lead to adverse results for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.