Arrest of 11 Saudi Princes Following Sit-in at Riyadh Royal Palace

According to the Saudi Public Prosecutor's Office, 11 princes of the country have been arrested after staging a sit-in in front of the royal palace in Riyadh. Based on a report from the Saudi website Al-Sabq, these princes gathered in protest against the cutting of their water and electricity expenses, and the Public Prosecutor's statement has confirmed this issue. The names of none of the arrested princes have been released, and according to the prosecutor's office, the detainees have been accused of disturbing public order and security. The Saudi Public Prosecutor's Office also confirmed Al-Sabq's report regarding the transfer of these individuals to Al-Ha'ir prison, which is managed under strict security measures. As reported by Al-Sabq, the royal guard had asked these individuals to disperse before their arrest. With the decline in oil prices, Saudi Arabia has implemented austerity policies in the country. In November, under the guise of fighting corruption, Saudi Arabia arrested over 200 princes in the country. Most of these detainees were transferred to the luxurious Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh, and part of their assets were confiscated. Meanwhile, King Salman issued a directive on Saturday to increase wages and tax exemptions, especially for the public sector and the military. The International Labour Organization estimated that in 2017, 36.2% of the population aged 15 to 25 in Saudi Arabia were unemployed, and the unemployment rate for the total working-age population in Saudi Arabia in 2017 was about 12%.