Saudi's top judiciary official has issued a religious decree saying the owners of television networks broadcasting immoral content may be killed.

Saudi cleric Saleh al-Luhaidan, chairman of the Saudi Supreme Judicial Council has been quoted by the al-Arabiya television network as saying that "the owners of these (satellite) channels propagate depravation and debauchery."

The Wahhabi cleric said that satellite channels caused the "deviance of thousands of people" as they show "seduction, obscenity and vulgarity."

Saudi Arabia, practices an austere form of Islam known as Wahhabism that originated in the 18th century in Arabia.

"Certainly it's permitted to kill those who encourage corrupt beliefs," al-Luhaidan said, without specifying any particular channel.

The situation is "serious ... the degradation of morals is a form of perversion on earth," he added.

Several TV networks are owned by Saudi princes, including Prince al-Waleed bin Talal, who owns the famous Rotana entertainment network, which airs movies and music videos. Talal is a billionaire businessman and member of the royal family whom Forbes ranks as the world's 13th richest person.

MMA/HAR