Adbul Aziz Al-Muzaini, the Saudi writer and producer behind Netflix animated series Masameer County, has been sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment and a 13 year travel ban on charges of terrorism and promoting discord, the Middle East Monitor reported last week. In a now-deleted YouTube video, Al Muzaini revealed his sentence and said that the case is now being appealed in the Saudi Supreme Court.
Musameer County, a cartoon similar in tone to South Park and Family Guy, satirises life in a fictional Saudi metropolis as its citizens deal with annoying viral trends, spoiled nepo babies and COVID-19 social isolation. The show was picked up by Netflix in 2021 and quickly topped viewing charts in Saudi Arabia and hit the top 10 in several other countries in the region.
The chargesโfiled by Saudi authorities in 2021โare allegedly based on accusations of using foul language, including the sentence โmay God curse you.โ Authorities have also accused Al-Muzaini and his animation studio Myrcott of supporting homosexuality in the show, and of promoting terrorism in an episode that depicts and mocks the terror group ISIS.
According to Middle East Monitor, Al-Muzaini has not been arrested yet. Heโs still in Riyadh, where heโs attempting to appeal the courtโs decision.
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