Mazen Abdul-Jawad
Mazen Abdul-Jawad | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1977 Saudi Arabia |
| Occupation | Former airline sales representative |
| Known for | Revealing details about his sexual life on Lebanese TV in 2009 |
Mazen Abdul-Jawad (born 1977) is a former airline sales representative from Saudi Arabia who became widely known after revealing details about his sexual life on Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) television in July 2009. In response to the broadcast, Saudi authorities ordered the closure of LBC's offices within the kingdom. He was found guilty of promoting immoral behavior and received a sentence of five years imprisonment along with 1,000 lashes.
Television appearance
At that period, Abdul-Jawad was employed by Saudia and was a divorced father of four children. During the LBC show Ahmar Bel Khat El Arid aired on July 15, 2009, he candidly recounted his sexual experiences, including his initial encounters and the use of Bluetooth technology to meet women—activities prohibited under Saudi law. He also disclosed a formula for an aphrodisiac and gave viewers a glimpse inside his bedroom, where blurred images of sexual devices were shown. The episode further featured a conversation with three male friends discussing their sexual tastes.
Arrest and conviction
Following numerous public complaints, Abdul-Jawad was detained on July 31, 2009, by Saudi religious and judicial officials who deemed his televised statements as violations of Islamic Sharia and local cultural norms. Authorities considered charging him with Hirabah—defined as unlawful warfare against the state—a capital crime punishable by death.
On October 7, 2009, a court in Jeddah sentenced Abdul-Jawad to five years in prison, 1,000 lashes, and imposed a five-year prohibition on travel and media participation after his release. The three men who appeared alongside him were each handed two-year prison sentences and 300 lashes. Additionally, the cameraman responsible for filming received a two-month jail term, while a female journalist from LBC was sentenced to 60 lashes.
Statements
Abdul-Jawad’s attorney, Sulaiman al-Jumeii, indicated that the case remained under appeal, asserting that the verdict was influenced by societal pressure. He maintained that his client did not discuss personal sexual encounters and that the sexual devices shown did not belong to him. Al-Jumeii also argued that the trial was conducted in an improper court and should have been overseen by a specialized tribunal within the Information Ministry equipped to handle technical issues.
Furthermore, al-Jumeii initiated legal action against LBC, claiming that his client had been deceived by the broadcaster and was often unaware he was being recorded.
Other
On August 7, YouTube disabled comments on the video clip of the program. Prior to being blocked by government censors in Saudi Arabia, the clip had amassed over 430,000 views.