Netflix has reportedly removed an episode of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj following complaints from Saudi Arabia. The episode of the show in question was highly critical of the way Saudi Arabia handled the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, bringing to attention Saudi Arabian Crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman's rumored involvement in the killing. Minhaj also took aim at the ongoing war in Yemen.
“Netflix confirmed that it had removed the episode in Saudi Arabia last week, after the country’s Communications and Information Technology Commission made a request to take it down because it allegedly violated the kingdom’s anti-cyber crime law,” Financial Times reported. "Later in the removed episode, Mr Minhaj criticized Silicon Valley for ‘swimming in Saudi cash’ and urged tech companies to stop taking investment from the kingdom."
Responding to the reports, Netflix told Financial Times, "We strongly support artistic freedom worldwide and only removed this episode in Saudi Arabia after we had received a valid legal request—and to comply with local law." The segment is still available on Netflix's official YouTube account.
Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj premiered on Netflix on October 28, 2018. The episode previously caused controversy when it first arrived online, after Minhaj revealed the way the online manual for U.S. troops deployed to Saudi Arabai described the indigenous population of the country as "Negro Blood." The U.S. Central Command removed the online manual and issued an apology.
