Saudi security: detained preachers are members of spying cell

A number of prominent Saudi preachers, who were arrested earlier this week, are members of an espionage cell, AlKhaleejonline.com reported yesterday.

Saudi security services have announced the arrest of a number of prominent Saudi preachers, including Salman Al-Ouda, Awad Al-Qarni and Ali Al-Omari.

Saudi activists took to social media to say that Saudi authorities had arrested around 20 preachers over their silence regarding the Saudi-led siege on Qatar. Roughly 30 preachers, academics, poets and writers have been arrested as part of this widening crackdown.

Okaz newspaper said that one of these preachers “played a hidden role in organising mass activities, taught Saudi youths about the principles of revolutions and prepared them to lead protests and demonstrations in the Gulf State, mainly in Saudi Arabia”.

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Without naming him, the newspaper said that this preacher gave lectures in centres run by the Muslim Brotherhood and raised funds illegally to support revolutionary activities among young people.

On Tuesday the State Presidency Apparatus announced that it had monitored intelligence activities for a group of people in favour of foreign parties who target the Saudi Kingdom, its citizens and its resources.

The security apparatus said it had “neutralised” these people and arrested them pending investigation.

AlKhaleejonline.com said that these preachers did not belong to any political group, but they have millions of followers on Twitter. It noted that they were not involved in the latest crisis with Qatar.