Fox News Warns American Journalists About Saudi Arabia's Media Restrictions

Steve Harrigan, a reporter for Fox News, warned American journalists that Saudi Arabia has recently become like Iraq, and they must be very careful. He explained that during Saddam's time in Iraq, no journalist was allowed to roam the country alone or interview anyone they wanted. Every foreign journalist was required to have a government guard with them at all times. Now, Saudi Arabia has adopted the same approach for foreign journalists. Harrigan reported that Saudi Arabia has prohibited the free movement of American journalists in the country and advised that these journalists must report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when leaving their accommodation and traveling from one city to another, even with their guards, and obtain permission for this. The Fox News reporter also noted that Saudi Arabia has banned the use of video phones, recalling that such use was also prohibited in Saddam's Iraq. He described the guards assigned by Saudi Arabia to accompany journalists as very stern and stated that it is impossible to establish a friendly relationship with them. He reported that these guards do not allow journalists to report freely or interview whomever they wish. He expressed regret over the emergence of such conditions in Saudi Arabia.