Many Arabic TV channels have started to show sexual scenes for attracting the audience. Of late, this competition has expanded to include sex education wherein sexual issues have come to be discussed live on TV giving a go-by to the society's ethics and undermining its culture and rules. There are no specific regulations to control such programs and this is the main reason why these programs have increased during the past few years. However, Hatem Yamani, ART's public relations manager, says that all Arabic channels are bound by a moral commitment of Arab Ministers Council. Several channels have started depicting sex scenes on TV without any other notion than to attract a big audience without caring about the institution of a family, added Yamani. The ART group is the first one to use the “scissors” against such programs. Experts in sociology say the obnoxious depiction of sex scenes will have strong negative effects on children and those in their teens. “There is a new medicine and the TV program gives specific details of sexual relations between spouses without taking any procedures to prevent children from watching it,” said Dania Al-Sharif, a social expert. “If these types of programs are absolutely necessary, parents and the TV channels themselves should devise a method so as to keep children away. A certain code can also be used in this regard, another social expert, Al-Ghaleb, said. TV channels are blindly adopting the Western culture and unfortunately, the West itself has been unable to curb these programs, Al-Ghaleb said. Sexual issues need not be discussed on air; there are so many specialized clinics for them where these issues can be discussed in complete privacy, he said. Al-Ghaleb dreads the day when sex education becomes a part of the school syllabi if this trend continues unchecked. “Even the Noble Qur'an uses metaphors on sexual relations in order to keep the issues implied. It is a guide for all of us not to discuss the topic openly,” said Asem Al-Hakim of Sheikh Jafer Al-Tayyar Mosque. Sexual education on TV, or even in schools is the first step toward temptation for adultery, he said. “In America, most of the girls in their early teens start sexual relations. This is because of teaching sexual education in schools,” added Al-Hakim. The best solution to avoid showing such programs to children is to choose only Islamic channels at home such as Al-Huda, Iqraa, Al-Rahama, and Al-Majd, he said. Early marriage is considered the only perfect way to avoid the sexual depravity, Asem Al-Hakim said Housewives prefer to see these programs, but they believe in some restrictions. “I do not mind watching these programs. But it has to happen randomly and not on a daily or even weekly basis, a Jeddah housewife Khawla Aboualasal said. “Knowing more about married life is a positive thing, but talking about specific sexual details will be too rude,” Aboualasal added. Manal Sobhi, another housewife here feels that such problems should not be discussed openly; it has to be purely personal between the spouses. “The Shariah defines everything and there is no need for such programs,” she said. __
