The controversy triggered by Star Academy was proportional to the program’s popularity, especially in Saudi Arabia, where clerics and politicians condemned it and a Saudi columnist in the establishment daily al–Riyadh called Star Academy “a whorehouse,” using epithets rarely printed in the Saudi press, while religious activists distributed an audio cassette carrying fiery sermons titled “The Academy of the Devil.” [44] Clerics were inundated with requests for rulings on whether it was haram or hall to watch and participate in the show. In what amounted to a rare dissenting youth voice in a cyberspace enamored with the show, an Islamist youth group set up a now defunct Web site called No2StarAcademy.net. More importantly, the highly influential “Permanent Committee for Scientific Research and the Issuing of Fatwa’s” in Saudi Arabia issued a lengthy fatwa, replete with citations from the Qur’an and Habit, prohibiting watching, discussing, voting in or participating in Star Academy. These are some excerpts from the fatwa (emphasis added by author):
“The Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwa’s has studied the questions from a number of proud Muslims concerning the program broadcast by some Arabic satellite channels which is called “Star Academy” and other similar shows. After studying the matter, the Committee thinks that these shows should be banned and it is harem to watch them, finance them, take part in them, call them to vote or to express admiration of them, because of what these shows include of allowing forbidden things concerning which there is consensus that they are forbidden, and doing so brazenly ... What brazenness in committing harem and immoral actions can be worse than these shows which include a number of serious evils? These include:
— Free mixing of the sexes. ...
So what about these programs, the main idea of which is mixing between the sexes and removing all barriers between them, as well as the wanton display and unveiling on the part of the women, and displaying their charms which leads to much evil?
— Blatant promotion of immorality and the means that lead to it. [this is related to illicit sexual intercourse]
— The call to remove hay’ (modesty, shyness) and ghee rah (protective jealousy, pride) from the hearts of the Muslims by making them get used to seeing these shameful scenes that provoke desires and distancing them from good morals and virtue.
...
It is not sufficient for you to abstain from watching these shows; you should also advise and remind those whom you know watch them or take part in them in any way, because that comes under the heading of cooperating in righteousness and piety, and forbidding one another to engage in sin and transgression.
The Committee also calls upon the businessmen who finance these shows to fear Allah with regard to the blessing of wealth that Allah has bestowed upon them, and not use it for things that will adversely affect the youth of this amah, destroy the symbols of Islam and serve the enemies of Islam, for this is a kind of ingratitude for blessings and is a cause of their loss.
It is obvious that these kinds of shows are among the causes of disasters that strike Islam and the Muslims.”
Hypermedia and governance in Saudi Arabia
7th October 2008
... 3emlinlo 3i2de la Venom 
