The Saudi Journalists Association has asked various government agencies to respect the rules governing the media in the Kingdom, including media-related disputes which can only be seen by a Ministry of Culture and Information committee comprising representatives from the Interior, Justice, Commerce and Industry, and Culture and Information Ministries. Any violation of the regulations governing the media in Saudi Arabia is a flagrant encroachment on government laws and royal decrees, the association said. The statement came after King Abdullah waived on Monday a Jeddah court's sentence of 60 lashes of the whip for a Saudi female journalist who had been charged with preparing a provocative TV show in which a Saudi national in July talked about his sexual adventures. The Ministry of Culture and Information committee, headed by the Deputy Minister of Culture and Information, was formed by a royal decree, said Abdullah Al-Jahlan, general-secretary of the Association. The association will hire lawyers to defend its members in case of media-related disputes, he said. “It is a great chance for journalists to join the association,” he said. The association was created in 2003 to regulate the media profession and relations between journalists and media establishments. Meanwhile, in its board meeting in Riyadh earlier this week chaired by seasoned journalist Turki Al-Sudairi, the Association urged its members to pay their membership fees in order to be eligible to take part in the Association's general assembly which will be held soon. The membership fees have been slashed from SR1,000 to SR250 for full-time members and from SR800 to SR200 for part-time members. – Okaz/SG , said Abdullah Al-Jahlan, general-secretary of the Association. Non-Saudi membership fees have also been reduced from SR500 to SR150, he added. Okaz/SG __
