(Image source from: South China Morning Post)

Netflix has taken down the second episode of the Patriot Act with an American born Muslim of Indian-origin Hasan Minhaj which criticizes the Saudi government.

According to reports, the episode of the series was taken off after receiving a request from Saudi's Communications and Information Technology Commission.

Saudi officials have questioned the limits of free online expression.

In the episode, Minhaj hits out at Saudi Arabi for the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi consulate in Istanbul. He criticizes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. In November he had said that his identity gives him a certain edge in becoming "superpowers" in his "utility box" to help him take on all the "crazy stuff happening in politics and culture". 

Reports quoted Netflix spokeswoman as saying, "We strongly support artistic freedom worldwide and removed this episode only in Saudi Arabia after we had received a valid legal request - and to comply with local law."

Earlier this month, the United Senate approved two resolutions accusing the prince of the killing as per the intelligence reports and urged an end to the U.S. participation in the Yemen conflict. Minhaj rose to popularity after hosing the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2018 where he roasted U.S. President Donald Trump, who was not in attendance. He began his career in comedy with American late-night talk program, The Daily Show.

After that, he did the comedy series The Homecoming King on the internet streaming service that gave rise to the Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj.

Talking about the latter, he was quoted as saying, "The Patriot Act, a pulpy, satirical take on topics such as America's marriage of convenience with Saudi Arabia (his words), oil, affirmative action, and Amazon, is like taking coffee and making a coffee espresso."

-Sowmya Sangam