Presidency of Religious Affairs warns officials about political sharing

With the June 7 general election approaching, the Presidency of Religious Affairs has issued a circular letter warning imams and other religious officers to abstain from sharing political comments on social media. Bearing the signature of the institution's General Directorate of Foreign Affairs, the document said, "Our religious officials request that you avoid making political comments on Facebook and Twitter."

"Several complaints have been conveyed to our directorate concerning some religious officials, who represent our country and directorate, posting certain comments, pictures and visual materials through Twitter, Facebook and other social networks in a political context that do not convey the solemnity and dignity of a religious official. Our religious officials, our foreign representative offices and our directorate fulfill their duties in a righteous way, but lose their reputations due to such posts on social networks," the circular said.

Indicating that legal action might be launched, it said, "I respectfully request that you make a verbal and written notification to all staff in your place of work concerning the matter of avoiding sharing posts and comments that do not comply with the dignity of civil and religious service via social media and the Internet and remind all that legal action that is pertinent to regulations will be launched for those who continue to share the aforementioned types of posts despite their being notified."