Netflix drops satire episode from comedian Hasan Minhaj's show that is critical of Saudi Arabia

Netflix on Tuesday removed an episode that satirically deunces Saudi Arabia and crown prince Mohamm bin Salman, after receiving complaints from officials in Kingdom saying it violated a Saudi anti-cybercrime law, drawing a question on freedom of expression in online medium.

episode of 'Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj', American-born Muslim comedian critisises Saudi Arabia following murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi consulate in Istanbul, that even led to global outr. 

In his gig, comedian largely deunces Crown Prince MbS along with being critical of Saudi-led military interventions in Yemen, pushing country in darkest times. 

RE| 'We Are t In Crisis', Says New Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf Over Jamal Khashoggi's Murder

"We strongly support artistic freedom worldwide and removed this episode only in Saudi Arabia after we h received a valid legal request -- and to comply with local law," a Netflix spokeswoman said in a statement.

A British newspaper said Netflix's action came after kingdom's Communications and Information Techlogy Commission said episode violated cybercrime law.

In December, US Senate approved two symbolic resolutions blaming Prince Mohammed for killing of Khashoggi, after intelligence reports pointed in that direction, and urging an end to US participation in Yemen War.

Karen Attiah, Khashoggi's editor at Washington Post, who has also been spearheing murder of Khashoggi, pushing for justice and keeping his voice alive, said Netflix's action was "quite outrous." 

Saudi Information Ministry did t immediately respond to requests for comment.

episode can still be seen in or parts of world -- and in Saudi Arabia on YouTube, but has been taken down from content streaming website.

Online platforms and tech companies face increasing scrutiny and growing public skepticism in face of controversies about data sharing and stey erosion of privacy.

In October, press freedom watchdog group Reporters Without Borders ranked Saudi Arabia as 169th out of 180 countries for press freedom, ding that "it will very probably fall even lower in 2019 index because of gravity of violence and abuses of all kinds against journalists." 

After releasing its annual study of global internet freedom, ar watchdog, Freedom House, said in vember that Saudi Arabia was among those employing "troll armies" to manipulate social media and in many cases drown out voices of dissidents.

Minhaj, 33, has seen his profile rise steily. His routines combine personal history and pointed political commentary wrapped in edgy topical humour.

RE| "I Kw How To Cut Well," Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Quoted A Murderer Of Jamal Khashoggi, According To Tapes

In 2014, he became a senior correspondent on Comedy Central's popular " Daily Show," and in 2017 was featured speaker at White House Correspondents' dinner. 

"Patriot Act" debuted in October 2018. 

(With inputs from PTI)