The most senior judge in Saudi Arabia has said it is permissible to kill the owners of satellite TV channels which broadcast immoral programmes.
Sheikh Salih Ibn al-Luhaydan said some "evil" entertainment programmes aired by the channels promoted debauchery.
Dozens of satellite television channels in the Middle East feature programmes with scantily-dressed women, which are watched by millions of Arabs every day.
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He gave an emphatic response to a listener seeking advice on the morality of entertainment programmes.
"There is no doubt that these programmes are a great evil, and the owners of these channels are as guilty as those who watch them," he said.
Royal dilemma
The judge said it was legitimate to kill those who encourage licentious behaviour, if they could not be deterred by other means.
"It is legitimate to kill those who call for corruption if their evil can not be stopped by other penalties," he said.
Given his position as the country's most senior judge, his views can not be easily dismissed, says BBC Arab affairs analyst, Magdi Abdelhadi.
Clerics like Sheikh Al-Luhaydan represent a huge dilemma for the Saudi royal family, our correspondent adds.
On the one hand Saudi rulers need their support to claim that they rule in the name of Islam.
But on the other hand, fighting militant Islam can be difficult when the country's top judge calls for the beheading of those he views as immoral broadcasters.
(BBC)
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