An article in the Saudi Gazette of June 21, 2005, titled "Saudi Suicide Bomber was a Comedian," reported that one of its on-air employees was martyred in a terror attack in Iraq: "Al-Majd channel acknowledged this week that Saudi suicide bomber Muhammad Shazzaf Al-Shehri, who attacked the Al-Hamra Oasis Village compound in Riyadh on May 12, 2003, was a math teacher and a hired comedian for the television station."
It further stated: "Just as the Ministry of Education was shocked to be informed that one of their own mathematics teachers was a suicide bomber, and just as King Saud University was also shocked that one of its former students and associates was a suicide bomber, Al-Majd channel also is shocked that one of its freelance comedians was a suicide bomber."
Responding to claims that Al-Majd is a "hatching ground for terrorists," a statement by the network defending the channel's integrity, as reported in the Saudi Gazette, explained: "The programs on the TV screen will speak out our innocence."
The following is rare footage of TV comedian-turned-suicide bomber Al-Shehri, which was aired on Al-Arabiya TV on December 17, 2005.
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Voice: "This is footage of an event held by the Zulfi province education department. This event was filmed by an amateur in early 2003, but the distribution of the file was later prevented. The event was presented by the suicide bomber Muhammad bin Shazaf Ali Aal Makhzum Al-Shehri, who would blow himself up a few months later at the AI-Hamraa residential compound in east Riyadh."
Muhammad Shazzaf Al-Shehri: "Whom must we all hate? Only the American leaders? No, all of America. We must boycott all American products, right? Does anyone disagree, brothers? I know I may be killed for this, but let's fight, brothers. Let's listen to the truth, brothers. Does anyone oppose the truth? No one.
"America is raiding our brothers in Iraq, while we sit here perfectly content."
Voice: "After Al-Shehri's speech, songs inciting to Jihad began, describing non-mujahideen as being fast asleep."
Singing: "Get up and shake off your slumber, because Islam is back. We have come for the sake of Allah, and we have declared Jihad. We have returned with submachine guns. We have the leadership today. We have awakened our generation, individually and as a whole."
Voice: "Gradually, the song, in Hijazi dialect, began to have an effect on those present."
Singing: "For the sake of my religion, everything else is meaningless. Even if they deport me and make me cry. Even if they torture me, they will not succeed. Even if they threaten me - no matter what they say. Even if they torture me, they will not succeed. Even if they threaten me - no matter what they say."
[...]
"We treat the woman like a protected pearl. In the West, the woman is degraded. We treat the woman like a protected pearl. In the West, the woman is degraded. A hidden pearl, a protected pearl."
