Netflix has pulled an episode of a show in which a comedian accused Saudi Arabia’s crown prince of covering up the murder of dissident Jamal Khashoggi.
Comedian and host Hasan Minhaj made the accusation in an episode of “Patriot Act,” and Netflix confirmed to the Financial Times that the episode was removed from the platform, Business Insider reported.
The video-streaming service said the episode was pulled after Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission and said it violated the nation’s anti-cybercrime law. Netflix complied.
“We strongly support artistic freedom worldwide and only removed this episode in Saudi Arabia after we had received a valid legal request — and to comply with local law,” Netflix said.
Minhaj, a Muslim-American, mocked the country’s changing story on Khashoggi’s death and said it was all being done to protect Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“This is the most unbelievable cover story since Blake Shelton won sexiest man alive. Are you kidding me?” Minhaj said.
Khashoggi was killed Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where he went to obtain paperwork to marry his Turkish fiancée. The columnist was a green card-holding resident of Virginia.
Minhaj said that the “entire cover-up exists for one reason,” before playing clips of reporters suggesting that the ever-evolving story was meant to protect the crown prince.
Saudi Arabia first said Khashoggi left the consulate safely, but then blamed a rogue Saudi government operation for his death. Officials there have always said the crown prince was unaware of and uninvolved in the murder.
“It blows my mind that it took the killing of a Washington Post journalist for everyone to go ‘Oh, I guess [Crown Prince bin Salman] is not a reformer. Meanwhile, every Muslim person you know was like ‘Yeah, no shit,’” Minhaj said.
