Al-Hayat newspaper bans Saudi journalist Khashoggi

Saudi’s Al-Hayat newspaper has banned the publication of articles written by US-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi after he defended the banned Muslim Brotherhood and Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi.

Co-Editor-in-Chief of Al-Hayat newspaper, Saud Al-Rayes, said in a tweet yesterday that the decision was taken by the publisher Prince Khalid Bin Sultan upon recommendation from his deputy, Prince Fahd Bin Khalid.

Meanwhile, Khashoggi responded in a tweet saying that he will not stop writing in Al-Hayat and that the decision was temporary.

“I understand the circumstance that forced them to take that decision,” he added.

“I spoke to his highness and we agreed not to write anything that spews hate but we disagreed with regards to the Muslim Brotherhood. I wish him all the best,” he added.

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On Sunday evening, the Saudi journalist published a number of tweets about the Muslim Brotherhood, saying that the group’s approach was that of every Muslim, and that classifying them as a terrorist group was temporary.

Saudi Arabia classified the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group in 2014 and banned support, sympathy or membership in the group.