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Saudi tabloid closed down over reprinting of cartoons

A Saudi tabloid newspaper was shut down on Monday after it reprinted controversial cartoons of Prophet Mohammed as part of a campaign for more action against Denmark, where the drawings first appeared, a newspaper employee said.

"The ministry of information informed us that they decided to shut down the paper until further notice and that's why the paper did not come out today," the employee with Shams newspaper said on condition of anonymity.

Shams printed the caricatures three weeks ago alongside an interview with popular Saudi cleric Salman al-Awdah who has been a key proponent of widening a boycott of Denmark and other countries where the cartoons were printed.

Shams first appeared in December and became an instant hit with the country's youth for its daring style and its focus on social and economic issues.

Like other media in the ultra-conservative kingdom, the paper is subject to the scrutiny of the ministry of information.

A private Islamic Saudi satellite channel Al-Majd has also broadcast the prophet cartoons with the same goal of stepping up the boycott.
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