No, Saudi Arabia Is not Changing Its National Flag

A viral social media post claiming that Saudi Arabia is changing its national flag and the national anthem is being widely shared on Facebook, and Tiktok in the past one week. The post claims that the change has been brought in as a part of the implementation of Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, and that the Kalema from the flag, the national anthem and the symbol of the country will be changed.

The viral posts on social media claimed that a draft proposal to change the Saudi national flag and the national anthem was approved by the Saudi Shura Council.

The same claims were also published by different news and media portals. 

Pakistani journalist Imran Khan also made the same claim in a video blog on his own YouTube channel.

Fact Check/ Verification

A key-frame search of the Ttiktok video lead us to a Facebook video making the same claim that Saudi Arabia was going to change its flag as well as the national anthem. Facebook page of the online TV channel Darbin News uploaded a video on February 5 which has been viewed 6.5 million times.

On further research, we found a report published in the Gulf News, which reported that Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council confirmed that there has been no change in the national flag or the national anthem. According to the report, Shura member Saad Al Otaibi, who tabled the draft, said the amendment aims to protect the flag and the national anthem from “harming, tampering and changes”.

In an interview with Arab News, Maj. Gen. Ali M. Al-Asiri, head of the Council’s Security and Military Committee, said the proposed amendment would allow the draft to change policies regarding the use of the country’s flag, emblem and national anthem.

According to a report broadcast on Jamuna TV on February 5, the Saudi Shura Council has adopted a new draft amendment on the use of the national flag which was not there before, ie., those who violated the flag would be jailed for one year and fined three thousand riyals. In addition, rules for flag hoisting have been laid down in non-governmental organizations.

However, no changes have been made to Saudi Arabia’s national flag, and the national anthem, according to the country’s Shura Council. 

The national flag of Saudi Arabia was adopted in 1973. It featured a plain green field with the Arabic shahada motto written in white colour and a white straight sword pointed to the left.  The text means, ‘There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of God.’  

Conclusion

There is no change to the national flag of Saudi Arabia. However, the country’s Shura Council has approved a draft amendment to the usage of the national flag, and national anthem.

Result: Misleading

Sources: 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shamim14353/video/7061283956599098650

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5057469620970970

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNy4L7oQw60

Jugantor: https://www.jugantor.com/international/516054/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8C%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87

https://www.jugantor.com/international/516995/%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8C%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%AC?fbclid=IwAR2Dgy7F8ZSwtFZMN4NNYNoyNfdpiHjNSLrY6_r1gIhPGFzG12oGTM4xEww

Jonotaralo24: https://www.jonotaralo24.com/news/4918

Gulf News: https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/no-changes-to-the-saudi-flag-and-national-anthem-1.1643907408755

Arab News: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2016816/saudi-arabia

Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/saudi-arabia-moves-to-redefine-islam-bearing-green-flag/2022/02/01/8df58056-8366-11ec-951c-1e0cc3723e53_story.html

 AP: https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-religion-dubai-united-arab-emirates-saudi-arabia-5a6ed6013641a7da4dc114c749251af0

Jamuna TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tZ6lHll5DM

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