As part of an extensive crackdown launched by the Saudi security services in early September, nearly 30 influential Islamic scholars, preachers, and well-known intellectuals were swept up in a series of dramatic pre-dawn raids. The coordinated campaign was designed for maximum impact - the authorities, whose targets included clerics, university professors, writers, researchers, poets lawyers, economists, rights advocates, and media officials, were accompanied by film crews as they burst into private homes to carry out the arrests. The campaign, which lasted for four successive days, impacted about 27 men, all of whom had spoken out in ways which could be deemed critical of Saudi domestic and foreign policy. Among the detained were Shaykh Salman al-Ouda, who has 14 million followers on Twitter, and the influential Awad al-Qarni, another prominent cleric with over two million Twitter followers, who was taken from his home in Abha. Saudi security men have also arrested a number of other clerics including the academic scholar Ali Badahdah, Adil Banaymah, Khalid al-Shannar, Idris Abkar, and Khalid al-Mahiwush.
Saudi has not commented on the matter, although the news agency SPA has said that authorities uncovered "intelligence activities for the benefit of foreign parties" by a group of unnamed people. The official line is that the individuals were aiding and abetting Qatari interests, although the common thread seems to be implied criticism of Saudi government policy. Shaykh Salman al-Ouda, for example, had recently proposed a reconciliation between Saudi and Qatar, following signs of a softening of Saudi's stance against the Kingdom's small neighbor, which has been subject to a boycott since June. After the government unexpectedly changed its position, however, al-Ouda suddenly appeared at odds with the Saudi leadership (al-Ouda is now reported to have begun a hunger strike). In another sign of an apparent crackdown on potential government critics, the authorities have been urging people to report "subversive" social media activity via a phone app, in anticipation of demonstrations (which are illegal) planned by exiled opposition leaders.
Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MbS) has moved quickly to consolidate his position since his father ascended the throne, acquiring unprecedented control over the levers of state power as he sidelines cousins and uncles who might stand in his way as rivals. The aging King Salman, who never sought the throne and always aspired to have one of his sons rule in his stead, has devolved almost all of his responsibility to Muhammad, his favored son, seemingly oblivious to the upheaval this has caused to the traditional structures of family governance. Senior royals, now shut out of power and seeing their influence over policy wane, have largely accepted their diminished status and left MbS to move forward with his plans, which include an ambitious economic agenda intended to wean the Kingdom off oil. But this has not been without controversy, as many of the royals, and much of the public, oppose the privatization of large sectors of the economy, in particular the planned sale of part of the oil giant, Saudi Aramco. Furthermore, MbS' foreign policy decisions have been seen as impetuous and ill-advised, with little to show for after billions of dollars in wasted effort. MbS, aware of the growing backlash, is responding to the pressure by drawing his wagon train into a circle.
None of the detained under the security sweep were known opposition figures or even openly critical of the state; in fact some considered themselves government allies, guilty only of mild censure. But the winds of change blow swiftly - al-Ouda's comments on Twitter reflected, only days previously, official policy. But after MbS became angered with public reports of his overtures to Doha, talk of Qatari isolation was once again the order of the day, and al-Ouda was himself isolated.
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King Receives Football Officials, Players
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King Salman Receives Dignitaries in Jiddah
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Prince Sultan bin Salman Discusses Future of Tourism at Chengdu
CHENGDU, China Prince Sultan Bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) and head of the Kingdom's delegation, participated in the 22nd session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (WTO), here on Thursday, the third day of deliberations, during which a number of challenges facing the future of the tourism sector and travel markets were discussed. He also participated in the voting session for the election of the secretary general of the World Tourism Organization for the period from 2018 to 2021. Zurab Pololikashvili of Georgia was elected as secretary general of the organization and successor to Dr. Taleb Al-Rifai, the current secretary general, whose term will end December 2017. Prince Sultan congratulated the new secretary general and wished him success in his tenure, stressing the Kingdom's keenness and constant support for the organization's success and prosperity. Prince Sultan expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation for the great efforts exerted by Dr. Taleb Al-Rifai during his term as secretary general. Earlier, on Wednesday Prince Sultan confirmed, in a speech, the importance of tourism and empowering it to be a strong supporter for the economy and a generator of job opportunities. The prince pointed out that the Kingdom has worked with the WTO to achieve the largest growth in the tourism sector, adding that the Kingdom under the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, is moving with all its strength to promote tourism and support it at various levels so as to continue to reap further successes that�??�?�¢??s in parallel with the aspirations of the citizens, residents and visitors to the Kingdom. Prince Sultan said that the SCTH has worked on this since its beginnings until tourism in the Kingdom has reached such high levels today, adding that tourism today is the second sector in terms of numbers in providing job opportunities for Saudi citizens. He noted that one of the factors that has led to success in the tourism sector in the Kingdom is that the commission has involved citizens in planning and implementation, which enabled the sector grow rapidly without encountering any obstacles. SPA |
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King Salman's Jordan Visit in Pictures
In this album, Jordanian honor guards parade in a ceremony honoring King Salman bin Abd al-Aziz of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. During the ceremony, Jordan's King Abdal |
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Universities under probe for financial discrepancies
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH mdash; The Ministry of Education has uncovered financial discrepancies at some universities reaching millions of riyals and has formed a specialized committee to investigate the possible violations, Al-Watan daily reported. A source at the ministry reported that undocumented and unauth |
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Water supplied to Najran villages polluted, residents claim
nbsp; Saudi Gazette report nbsp; NAJRAN mdash; Residents of villages and small towns in Najran Province claim their water supplies are polluted and requested the Najran General Directorate of Water to fulfill its promise of providing potable water to the region, Al-Watan daily reported. |
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Saudi Prince Claims Twitter Account Was Hacked
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Saudi Arabia's religious authority says cinemas, song concerts harmful
Saudi Arabia's top religious authority has called cinemas and singing concerts harmful and corrupting, in a move that could complicate government efforts to introduce cultural reforms to the conservative kingdom. The comments by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh, published on his website, said cinemas and round-the-clock entertainment could open the door to "atheistic or rotten" foreign films and encourage the mixing of the sexes. |
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Grand mufti backs conscription
Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Asheikh supports the idea of mandatory conscription that would see Saudi youths participate in military service. The grand mufti also wants legislation enacted requiring youths to be drafted into compulsory military training programs for a certain period of time. |
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Changing Family Dynamics: End of an Interlude?
As traditional assumptions about the place of consensus, seniority and compromise in domestic family politics are cast aside in the face of new realities, any discussion of succession must take into account the evolving dynamics. The more recent history of the Al Saud, in fact, and the impression drawn of of stability, practicality, and quiet competence, may, in the larger scheme, prove more the exception than the rule. |
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Succession Shock - The Trump Effect?
The King has replaced Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayif with his own son, Muhammad, the deputy crown prince and defense minister, in a move which, though not entirely unexpected, represents a seismic shift in the succession dynamic. Now, the position of deputy crown prince remains vacant - will Salman abdicate in favor of his son, and who will be next in line? |
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The End of Consensus: Uncharted Terrain?
The rapid promotion of King Salman's son, Muhammad, highlights a fundamental contrast between the king and his predecessor. In the matter of succession, owing to his position within the royal family and a different outlook resulting from that advantage, Salman can afford to downplay the role of consensus and effect a radical break from the past. |
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The Death of Prince Mish'al - Demise of the Allegiance Committee?
With the death of Prince Mish'al, Chairman of the Allegiance Commission - the formal entity established to decide succession matters - King Salman has an opportunity to reconstitute the body and restore its relevancy at a time of great uncertainty over the role of his favorite son, the controversial Muhammad, who serves as deputy crown prince. It is a course of action Salman is unlikely to take. |
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Hazards Ahead For Muhammad bin Salman: Trump To The Rescue?
The star of the deputy crown prince, Muhammad bin Salman, will rise now that the Americans have thrown their weight behind Saudi efforts to reign in Iranian regional influence. President Trump, an unlikely ally, may ensure that Muhammad's place in the succession is secure. |