TV team arrested for banned photographing

Saudi authorities arrested a team from a major local television network on charges of photographing sensitive government sites. He was freed on the next day after interference by a Saudi royal figure.

The team from Rotana Khalijiya, an affiliate of the Rotana Group, has just finished a TV coverage mission in the central province of Al Qasseem and was heading back to Riyadh when they were intercepted by the police.

Newspapers said police arrested Saudi TV presenter Mansour Al Mazham and his Sudanese photographer and handed them over to the competent authorities.

Sabq Arabic language daily said police also summoned Fahd Al Anzi, editor-in-chief of Al Qasseem News daily, and charged him with helping the TV team. It did not make clear if Anzi was also arrested.

“Mazham was released on the next day after mediation by the province’s Emir Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud,” the paper said.