Hasan Minhaj responds to Netflix pulling out 'Patriot Act' episode in Saudi Arabia

In his inimitable style, popular comic Hasan Minhaj has responded to Netflix's decision of dropping an episode from his special 'Patriot Act' in Saudi Arabia, saying move has piqued interest of viewer.

Read | Netflix Drops Satire Episode Of ‘Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj’ Critical Of Saudi Arabia

episode of show, which premiered in October 2018, featured a segment criticising country's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's alleged involvement in Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi's murder. Minhaj, an American-born Muslim, named Crown Prince in Khashoggi's killing and was also critical of Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen.

comic took to Twitter Wednesday to comment on Netflix complying with country's demands. "Clearly, best way to stop people from watching something is to ban it, make it trend online, and n leave it up on YouTube," he wrote.

Minhaj, 33, also urged his followers to donate to Yemen, where air strikes by Saudi-led coalition have come under intense scrutiny since Khashoggi was slain, through International Rescue Committee. "Let's t forget that world's largest humanitarian crisis is happening in Yemen right w. Please donate," he wrote sharing link.

Netflix confirmed Tuesday that it removed an episode of satirical comedy show that criticises Saudi Arabia after officials in kingdom reportedly complained. "We strongly support artistic freedom worldwide and removed this episode only in Saudi Arabia after we had received a valid legal request - and to comply with local law," a Netflix spokeswoman said in a statement.

said episode can still be seen in or parts of world - and in Saudi Arabia on YouTube. In October, press freedom watchdog group Reporters Without Borders ranked Saudi Arabia as 169th out of 180 countries for press freedom, adding that "it will very probably fall even lower in 2019 index because of gravity of violence and abuses of all kinds against journalists."