Saudi Gazette report RIYADH – The Shoura Council directed on Monday the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution (BIP) to file criminal cases in special courts against those who engage in acts of slander and defamation through the print, audio-visual and electronic media against government organizations, religious figures, leaders and officials of the country. The Council meeting, chaired by its President Sheikh Abdullah Al-Asheikh, also instructed BIP to coordinate with the security agencies to identify those involved in such crimes or those who give them cover up, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Fahaad Al-Hamad, Assistant President of the Council, said that the Council endorsed, with a majority vote, a proposal made in this regard by a member Saud Al-Shamri. The Council took the decision after listening to the viewpoints of the Islamic Affairs Committee. It also demanded setting up of a higher institute for BIP, as well as to work out criteria for evaluating performance of its staff members. The Council approved another proposal, presented by Nasser Al-Shahrani, to carry out feasibility studies about setting up a National Center for Studies of Criminal Justice and Fighting Crimes.
