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The following is research published today from MEMRI’s Special Dispatch Series. Special Dispatch No. 3877—Saudi Arabia/Democratization and Reform in the Arab and Muslim World Reactions to Amended Saudi Press and Publications Law Banning Insults to Public Figures On April 29, 2011, Saudi King 'Abdallah issued a decree announcing amendments to five articles of the kingdom's Press and Publications Law, first enacted in 2000. The amendments focus on an article banning the publication of anything "harmful to the reputation or dignity of individuals." Unlike the original law, which banned publications affronting individuals in general, the new version explicitly specifies public figures and members of the religious establishment, beginning with Saudi Arabia's chief mufti. It also specifies new, harsher penalties for violators. It would seem that the new law is part of the Saudi regime's preparations for the possibility of a popular uprising like those that have occurred in other Arab countries. Some Saudi columnists said that the amendments violated freedom of expression, while others said that the new law would have positive implications for the media. To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5329.htm. Special Dispatch No. 3876—Taliban/Afghanistan/Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor Taliban Commander Details Jihadist Activities in Afghanistan's Northern Province Note to media and government: For a full copy of the article, send an email with "Taliban Commander Details Jihadist Activities" in the subject line to media@memri.org. Please include your name, title, and organization in your email. In a recent interview published by the official Taliban website, Qari Muhammad Isma'il al-Sirajji, the Taliban chief commander for the northern Afghan province of Jowzjan, revealed details about the Taliban's influence in five of the province's eight districts. Qari Muhammad Isma'il al-Sirajji, 45, has been leading the Taliban mujahedeen in Jowzjan in recent years. He is a local Afghan, born in the province's Aqcha district, and a member of the Turkoman tribe. He served in many official positions when the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (now the Taliban's shadow government) was in power in Afghanistan in the 1990s. To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5330.htm. To view this report, you must be a paying member of the Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor Project (JTTM). For membership information, send an email to jttmsubs@memri.org with "Membership" in the subject line.