Saudi Arabia has ordered its newspapers to boycott a local writer after he was accused of blasphemy and abusing Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him).

Information minister Abdul Aziz Khowja said he had ordered all newspapers not to carry any article by Hamza Kashgari for his persistent offences against Islam.

“I have instructed all newspapers and magazines in the Kingdom not to allow him to write any thing and we will take legal measures against him,” he said, quoted by Saudi newspapers on Tuesday.

“When I read his articles, I wept and got very angry to have someone in the country of the two holy shrines address our prophet (PBUH) in this offending way,” he added without giving further details.

Newspapers said Khowja’s move came after thousands of readers and schools sent letters to the local media and online demanding Kashgari’s prosecution.

On Tuesday, many Saudi newspapers carried a letter written by Kashgari on his Twitter page apologizing for any offence, which he said was inadvertent.