Saudi rules out blocking Internet unfriendly content

A Saudi Interior Ministry official has ruled out blocking access to the Internet as a means to deal with online content deemed hostile to the country, a local newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Maj. Gen. Mansour al Turki, spokesman of the Saudi Interior Ministry, told a forum that there are more than half a million social media accounts that disseminate content aims at hurting the country's social unity and security, but the accounts are originated from abroad, Al Riyadh reported.

Joining hands with others to fight those accounts, rather than banning the Internet, is the best solution, the official said.

Al-Qaida is one of the groups that invest in the Internet to recruit Saudi youth to fight in conflict zones, al Turki said.

On May 7, Saudi Arabia announced a 15-day grace period for all Saudi nationals who were fighting in conflict zones, such as Syria, to come back home and avoid legal punishment.

Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud issued an order on Feb. 3 to imprison Saudis fighting outside the country for three to 20 years. The imprisonment also covers those who are members or supporters of local, regional and international religious extremist and terrorist groups. Convicted military personnel will be sentenced to five to 30 years in jail.