Although she claims not to have been directly involved in the episode, journalist Rozanna al-Yami of Saudi Arabia was sentenced to receive 60 lashes as a result of a Lebanese television show, “Bold Red Line,” which featured a man discussing his sex life. A Saudi court handed down the sentence on Saturday to al-Yami, who is believed to be the first female journalist to receive such a punishment. Al-Yami says she worked as a coordinator for the program but denied helping film the episode in which Mazen Abdul-Jawad describes his sex life and shows off his sex toys, which were blurred by the station. Abdul-Jawad will also be punished for his involvement, receiving five years in jail and 1,000 lashes. Al-Yami says the court dropped the charges against her, but not the sentence in order to deter others from participating in such public behavior.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Saudi Female Journalist Gets Lashes for Sex Show (by Donna Abu-Nasr, Associated Press)

Flogging of Female Journalist “Too Light” (Maktoob)