On 15 January 2007 at 8pm Channel Four broadcast a programme entitled ‘Dispatches - Undercover Mosque’.

The programme alleged, among other things, that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its “religious establishment” are spreading a “radical ideology” of “intolerance and bigotry” through British Mosques and Islamic organizations. 

The Kingdom and the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia are deeply offended by these false allegations.  The country is the birthplace of Islam and the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him), the land where the holy Quran was revealed, and is the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Makkah and Madinah.  As such, Saudi Arabia is the cradle of Islam and will never compromise when it comes to defending Islam.  In this regard, any slur on the sacred teachings of Islam is grossly offensive and will not be tolerated.

Moreover, the Embassy has received scores of complaints from Muslim leaders and concerned citizens since this unfortunate programme was broadcast.  It is obvious that the contents of the programme offended Muslims the world over including the many British Muslims

The Government of Saudi Arabia, working in close co-ordination with the British and other Governments, has gone to great lengths to combat the type of extremism featured in the programme.  The Saudi Arabian Government has gone on record a number of times to make it clear that it does not support radical or extreme ideology. 

Following discussions between Channel Four and the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Channel Four conceded that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would be afforded an opportunity to comment on the programme before its broadcast (even though the Embassy and its representatives were denied the opportunity to preview the programme) and permitted it to submit a short written statement (limited by Channel Four to no more than 150 words). The following official statement was broadcast, in the programme:

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an Islamic state, governed in accordance with the teachings of the Shari'a.

Islam is a religion of tolerance and respects the human rights of all people, regardless of gender, age, religion or race.  Islam is a religion without national borders.  There is no such thing as "the religious establishment" in Saudi Arabia.   

Here, as in every society, one can find extremists, as well as conservatives and moderates.

Saudi Arabia does not support radical or extreme ideology but strongly condemns all those seeking to politicise Islam: preaching, inciting or fostering hatred and violence, or legitimizing terrorist activities.  To this end, many Imams have been re-educated in recent years and a misguided few have been dismissed.

Any financial donations, public or private, are scrutinised according to the highest international standards to ensure that no funds are sent to extremist groups.

Saudi Arabia has pioneered calls for greater international cooperation for the exchange of timely and specific information.”

Following his viewing of the programme, the Saudi Ambassador to the UK and Ireland, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al-Saud, made the following statement: 

“Islam has no national identity: there are conservatives, moderates, and extremists in all countries.

However, this programme implies that “radical ideology” is the sole preserve of Saudi Arabia and something that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia promotes. This is simply not true and the suggestion is offensive and constitutes an affront to Saudi Arabia and its people.

I would like to assure the British population and the Muslim community in the UK that the preaching of the extremists filmed in this documentary are abhorrent to the people and government of Saudi Arabia which I represent.

This programme falsely accuses the Kingdom of trying to influence British Muslims to practice an Islam of intolerance and bigotry; this is something we categorically reject as it goes against the well-established policy of the Kingdom of never interfering in the internal affairs of any country or allowing any country to interfere in its internal affairs.”

The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia is deeply concerned by the programme’s comments about Islam and Saudi Arabia at such a sensitive and important time and object to Channel Four calling into question, in an advert posted on its website, the historical and special relationship between our two respective countries.