Increased Pressure and 'Arrests of Clerics and Intellectuals' in Saudi Arabia

Media reports, citing political activists on social media, indicate an increase in pressure and the arrest of several 'popular and beloved' clerics, intellectuals, and academics in Saudi Arabia. According to Reuters, the increased pressure on the opposition in Saudi Arabia comes at a time when rumors of King Salman’s resignation and the ascension of his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have surfaced. While the Saudi government strongly denies these rumors, the British newspaper The Guardian speculates that the Crown Prince is set to take the throne in the first half of next year, citing 'sources close to the royal family.' Furthermore, the arrests occur amidst an ongoing crisis in relations between Saudi Arabia and its allies with another Arab country, Qatar. In June of this year, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt severed ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting or financing terrorism. These countries then announced conditions for restoring relations with Qatar, including severing ties with Iran, shutting down Al Jazeera, closing the Turkish military base in Qatar, and halting support for terrorist groups. However, Qatar responded that these conditions effectively disregard its national sovereignty and rejected them. The Reuters report on the new pressures on the opposition in Saudi Arabia notes that a prominent cleric named Salman al-Ouda was arrested after welcoming a potential resolution to the recent crisis with Qatar on Twitter. The Guardian states that Salman al-Ouda has over 14 million followers on Twitter. Saudi online political activists reported last Tuesday that at least eight other figures in the country, including several clerics, university professors, and a television presenter, have also been arrested. The Guardian mentions that a well-known businessman, a university professor, and a poet are among those detained. Saudi state media reported following the recent arrests that those detained, particularly the clerics sent to prison, were linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, which Saudi Arabia considers 'terrorist.' Additionally, the Saudi security agency announced that individuals were arrested for being in contact with 'foreign powers.' Mohammed bin Salman, the 32-year-old Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, ousted Mohammed bin Nayef, a senior member of the Saudi royal family, earlier this summer, and reports indicate that he remains under house arrest. Since then, it has been reported that the elderly Saudi king has allowed his Crown Prince to effectively take control of the government. In this context, Russia has urged Saudi Arabia and its allies to end their disputes with Qatar. Saudi Arabia has reported on 'preventing ISIS attacks' and the arrest of 'foreign spies.' There are fears of 'cyber attacks' among the Gulf countries.