The comments by Sheik Saleh al-Lihedan, the chief of the kingdom’s highest tribunal, the Supreme Judiciary Council, were an attempt to explain a fatwa, or decree, he issued last week, in which he said just that it was permissible to kill the network’s owners.

Appearing on government-run Saudi TV Sunday, al-Lihedan seemed to be trying to calm the controversy his original comments triggered, explaining that the owners of offending networks should be warned and punished before possibly being brought to trial and executed.

Still, al-Lihedan, who is also a cleric, did not back down.

A prominent cleric condemned al-Lihedan’s edict, saying it encourages terrorism and allows "the enemies of Islam" to portray the faith as one that favors murder.

Al-Lihedan’s edict was broadcast Thursday during the daily "Light in the Path" radio program in which he and others pass rulings on what is permissible under Islamic law.

One caller asked about Islam’s view of the owners of satellite TV channels that show "bad programs" during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, which began two weeks ago.

"I want to advise the owners of these channels, who broadcast calls for such indecency and impudence ... and I warn them of the consequences," al-Lihedan said. "What does the owner of these networks think, when he provides seduction, obscenity and vulgarity?"