Arrests mount up across Saudi Arabia


Issue 1044 - 22 Sep 2017 | 1 minute read

The arrest in early September of prominent Islamic opinion-makers Sheikhs Salman Al-Ouda and Awad Al-Qarni sent a clear message to social media commentators thinking of postings remarks that could be seen to stray too far into political territory associated with MBS. There are fears of further crackdowns if and when Vision 2030 projects begin to impact on a conservative society and its economic structures. Advocacy group Amnesty International said that in the week to 18 September the crackdown intensified with the arrests of more than 20 prominent religious figures, writers, journalists, academics and activists.

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