Kamal Adham
Kamal Adham (1929-1999) was head of Saudi intelligence from 1964 to 1979.[1]
Adham later became involved in the London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, according to writer Mohammed El Oifi in Le monde diplomatique:
The drive to establish Saudi control over the Arab media started in the 1970s in an attempt to counter Nasser's Sawt al-Arab (voice of the Arabs) radio. Prince Salman was one of the first to realise what was at stake and acquired Asharq Al-Awsat, started in 1978 in London by two brothers of Saudi origin, Hisham and Muhammad Ali Hafiz. Their assistants were Kamal Adham and Turki al-Faisal, both prominent figures in Saudi intelligence.[2]
Around the same time Saudis acquired publishing and news interests in Lebanon. The distinguishing characteristic of their publishing business was its emphasis on promoting the Saudi image and sabotaging anything remotely critical of Saudi elites -- Edward Said once described how these Saudi-related groups had worked to block the publications of one of his books. The output of those publishing houses was all directed outside Saudi Arabia. Also in evidence at this time was the alignment of Saudi interests in Lebanon with Lebanese Christian businessmen and journalists.
Notes
- ↑ Kamal Adham, The BAE Files, 8 June 2007.
- ↑ Mohammed El Oifi, Not the voice of the street, Le monde diplomatique, Dec 2006. (subscription required).
