Okaz - Content

Content

It appears that Okaz publishes articles and news about several distinct topics ranging from lesbians' confessions to Zionist threats. Besides a critical coverage of social issues, Okaz reports almost taboo subjects, like the harsh treatment of women by the religious police. On the other hand, Okaz was generally considered as the most aggressive and sensationalist about news against Yemen and then-President Saleh.

Hussein Shobokshi, a former columnist for Okaz, wrote about his vision of a country where the government is fully accountable to the public, citizens can freely vote, and women can drive cars in his July 2003 column. His article led to a huge public reaction, including complaints from what he called "tribal and religious groups." Then, he was quickly put in the blacklist for the next year and his new talk show on the Saudi-owned satellite broadcaster Al Arabiya was cancelled. His editor told Shobokshi that he was banned without explaining why or by whom.

Princess Fahda bint Saud, one of King Saud's daughter, who is presented as a historian of his father's reign by Saudi newspapers published an article on Okaz on 15 November 2003. The article was titled "The Bombings: Who is Behind the Scenes? Who is Behind Terrorism?" and concerned with Zionist threats posed to Saudi Arabia.

In an editorial entitled 'The limits of our responsibility' published in Okaz on 28 November 2003, it was admitted that Saudi money had gone to finance the terrorist acts of 9/11, but added: "It was to be expected that funds have gone out of our pockets and our wealth to those who carried out the act (of 9/11) even though it was done indirectly and without our knowledge."

Two female reporters wrote about a taboo in the context of Saudi Arabia, lesbians, in 2007. They reported the confessions of two women having lesbian relationship.

Muhammad Al Tunisi, who had been serving as editor-in-chief of the paper since October 2008, allowed the publication of a report by Sami Al Harbi about high consumption of the Khat drug plant in Jazan in late November 2011. The report based on a field study claimed that 70% of residents used the Khat plant, affecting the cells of the human body and leading to sexual deviation. This report led to Jazan's residents', particularly young men's, boycott against the newspaper and call for the paper to be banned. Then, Al Tunisi was dismissed by the paper administration, although he apologized and the paper declared that the report had been a scientific study. Then, Al Tunisi was replaced by Hashim Abdo Hashim as editor-in-chief in December 2011.