2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge
{{Short description|Mass arrests by Mohammed bin Salman regime}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox event
| title = 2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge
| image = Mohammad bin Salman October 2019 (cropped).jpg
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| caption = Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
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| date = 4 November 2017 – 30 January 2019
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| location = Saudi Arabia
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| type = Governmental purge
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The 2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge was the mass arrest of a number of prominent Saudi Arabian princes, government ministers, and business people in Saudi Arabia on 4 November 2017. It took place weeks after the creation of an anti-corruption committee led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.{{Cite news |date=2019-01-30 |title=Saudi Arabia ends major anti-corruption campaign |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47065285 |access-date=2024-11-13 |language=en-GB}}
The purge helped centralize political powers in the hands of Saudi ruler Mohammed bin Salman and undermine the pre-existing structure of consensus-based governance among Saudi elites.{{Citation |last=Alhussein |first=Eman |title=Saudi Arabias centralized political structure: prospects and challenges |date=2023 |url=https://www.elgaronline.com/edcollchap/book/9781802205633/book-part-9781802205633-14.xml |work=Handbook of Middle East Politics |pages=144–157 |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |isbn=978-1-80220-563-3}}{{Citation |last=Davidson |first=Christopher M. |title=Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (a.k.a. "MBS"): King in all but name (born 1985) |date=2021 |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003100508-23/mohammed-bin-salman-al-saud-mbs-christopher-davidson |work=Dictators and Autocrats |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231230000000/https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003100508-23/mohammed-bin-salman-al-saud-mbs-christopher-davidson |url-status= |publisher=Routledge |doi=10.4324/9781003100508-23 |isbn=978-1-003-10050-8 |archive-date=December 30, 2023|doi-access=free }} [https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/52782/1/9781000467550.pdf#page=354 Alt URL] The arrests resulted in the final sidelining of the faction of King Abdullah, and Mohammed bin Salman's complete consolidation of control of all three branches of the security forces. It also cemented bin Salman's supremacy over business elites in Saudi Arabia and resulted in a mass seizure of assets by the bin Salman regime.
The detainees were confined at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh (which had hosted the announcement for the creation of the planned city of Neom on 24 October 2017),{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/04/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-waleed-bin-talal.html|title= Saudi Arabia Arrests 11 Princes, Including Billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal|author=David Kirkpatrick|date=4 November 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date= 5 November 2017}} which subsequently stopped accepting new bookings and told guests to leave.{{cite news|title=Saudi Arabia's unprecedented shake-up|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21731021-muhammad-bin-salman-has-made-himself-sole-face-saudi-policy-saudi-arabias|newspaper=The Economist|date=5 November 2017|access-date=6 November 2017}} Private jets were also grounded to prevent suspects from fleeing the country.
As many as 500 people were rounded up in the sweep.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/06/world/middleeast/ritz-carlton-riyadh-saudi-princes.html|title=Ritz-Carlton Has Become a Gilded Cage for Saudi Royals|author=Nicholas Kulish|date=6 November 2017|newspaper=The New York Times}} Saudi Arabian banks froze more than 2,000 domestic accounts as part of the crackdown.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-arrests-kingdom-holding-exclusi/exclusive-saudi-prince-detention-holds-up-loan-to-investment-firm-sources-idUSKBN1DK1W6 Exclusive: Saudi prince detention holds up loan to investment firm - sources] Reuters According to The Wall Street Journal, the Saudi government targeted cash and assets worth up to $800 billion.{{cite news|title=The Saudi purge will spook global investors and unsettle oil markets|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21731174-some-welcome-crackdown-cronyism-others-fear-concentration-power|access-date=11 November 2017|newspaper=The Economist|date=9 November 2017}} The Saudi authorities claimed that amount was composed of assets worth around $300 billion to $400 billion that they can prove was linked to corruption.{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/saudi-crackdown-escalates-with-arrests-of-top-military-officials/ar-BBF6cP9|title=Saudi Crackdown Escalates With Arrests of Top Military Officials|author=Pavel Golovkin|date=17 November 2017|work=MSN|access-date=18 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031853/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/saudi-crackdown-escalates-with-arrests-of-top-military-officials/ar-BBF6cP9|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=dead}} The anti-corruption committee ended its mission on 30 January 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-arrests-idUSKCN1PO2O1|title=Saudi Arabia closes 15-month anti-corruption campaign: SPA|date=30 January 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=30 January 2019|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1880379#1880379|title=Statement by the Royal Court: Anti Corruption Committee Concludes its Tasks the official Saudi Press Agency|website=www.spa.gov.sa|access-date=30 January 2019}}
Allegations
The allegations include money laundering, bribery, extorting officials, and taking advantage of public office for personal gain.{{Cite web |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-widens-purge-171106104312835.html |title=Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman widens purge |date=6 November 2017 |work=Al Jazeera |publication-place=Doha, Qatar |publisher=Al Jazeera Media Network |editor1-first=Mostefa |editor1-last=Souag |editor2-first=Al |editor2-last=Anstey |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201222747/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-widens-purge-171106104312835.html |access-date=8 November 2017 }}
= Tiger Squad =
{{main|Tiger Squad}}
According to the Middle East Eye, an assassination campaign against critics of the monarchy was carried out in parallel to the overt arrests of the purge, by the Tiger Squad, which was formed in 2017 and {{as of|2018|10|lc=yes}}, consisted of 50 secret service and military personnel. The group members were recruited from different branches of the Saudi forces, directing several areas of expertise.
The Tiger Squad allegedly assassinates dissidents using varying covert methods, such as planned car and aircraft accidents, house fires, and poisoning at hospitals during routine health checkups. The five-member squad were also part of the 15-member death squad who assassinated Jamal Khashoggi.
According to the sources, bin Salman chose silent murder instead of arrest as the method of repression due to the fact that only arresting the dissidents would spark international pressure to release them, whereas silent murder covers it up quietly. Prince Mansour bin Muqrin died when his personal aircraft crashed,{{cite news |title=Saudi Arabia Arrests 11 Princes, Including Prominent Billionaire |page=A1 |date=5 November 2017 |access-date=21 January 2021 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/04/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-waleed-bin-talal.html |newspaper=The New York Times |publication-place=New York City, New York, United States of America |first1=David D. |last1=Kirkpatrick |first2=Eric |last2=Schmitt |archive-date=4 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304160458/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/04/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-waleed-bin-talal.html }} although it was allegedly shot down as he tried to flee the country from the purge and then made to appear as an accident. Meshal Saad al-Bostani, a member of the Tiger Squad and a lieutenant in the Saudi air force was allegedly behind the murder and he himself would die in a car accident in Riyadh while according to a Turkish news outlet he had actually been murdered by poison.{{cite web |first1=Alex |last1=Lockie |first2=John |last2=Haltiwanger |date=18 October 2018 |access-date=21 January 2022 |website=Business Insider |publication-place=New York City, New York, United States of America |publisher=Insider Inc. (Axel Springer SE) |title=One of the men suspected of killing Jamal Khashoggi reportedly died in a car crash after returning to Saudi Arabia |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/khashoggi-suspect-mashal-saad-al-bostani-reportedly-dead-in-car-crash-2018-10 |archive-date=4 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604193702/https://www.businessinsider.com/khashoggi-suspect-mashal-saad-al-bostani-reportedly-dead-in-car-crash-2018-10 |editor-first=Nicholas |editor-last=Carlson |editor-link=Nicholas Carlson }}
Another victim was Suliman Abdul Rahman al-Thuniyan, a Saudi court judge who was murdered by injection of a deadly virus when he visited a hospital for a regular health checkup. This took place after he had opposed bin Salman's 2030 Economic Vision.
= Corruption =
King Salman stated that the anti-corruption committee need to "identify offences, crimes and persons and entities involved in cases of public corruption". He also referred to the "exploitation by some of the weak souls who have put their own interests above the public interest, in order to illicitly accrue money".{{Cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/saudi-ministers-national-guard-economy-dismissed-171104190619900.html|title=Saudi Arabia princes detained, ministers dismissed |date=5 November 2017 |work=Al Jazeera |access-date=8 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319122458/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/saudi-ministers-national-guard-economy-dismissed-171104190619900.html |archive-date=19 March 2020 |publication-place=Doha, Qatar |publisher=Al Jazeera Media Network |editor1-first=Mostefa |editor1-last=Souag |editor2-first=Al |editor2-last=Anstey }}
= Extremism =
On 24 October 2017 Mohammad bin Salman who ordered the arrests, told investors in Riyadh that "We are returning to what we were before, a country of moderate Islam that is open to all religions and to the world". He also pledged to counter extremism.{{Cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/11/05/saudi-prince-behind-sweep-arrests-known-young-and-brash-but-has-trumps-ear/833796001 |title=Saudi prince behind sweep of arrests is known as young and brash, but has Trump's ear |last=Dorell |first=Oren |date=5 November 2017 |work=USA Today |access-date=8 November 2017|language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417203918/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/11/05/saudi-prince-behind-sweep-arrests-known-young-and-brash-but-has-trumps-ear/833796001 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |editor-first=Nicole |editor-last=Carroll |editor-link=Nicole Carroll |publication-place=McLean, Virginia, United States of America |publisher=Gannett |issn=0734-7456 }}
List of involved people
File:Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdullrahman bin Faisal Al Saud (Crop).jpg
File:Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz 2013-01-16.jpg
File:SD meets with Minister of the National Guard of Saudi Arabia 141121-D-DT527-140.jpg
Those arrested, detained, sanctioned or removed from their posts include, but are not limited to:
=Royals=
==Detained==
- Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, billionaire businessman{{cite web|url= http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-top-saudi-official-ousted-princes-reportedly-arrested-2017-11-2|title= Saudi Arabia arrests 11 princes, including billionaire investor Prince al-Waleed bin Talal|author=Michelle Mark|date=4 November 2017|work=Business Insider|quote= Eleven princes and dozens of former ministers were detained ... The government said the anti-corruption committee has the right to issue arrest warrants, impose travel restrictions and freeze bank accounts.|access-date=5 November 2017}} (Released 27 January 2018, according to Agence France-Presse){{cite web|url= https://www.afp.com/en/news/205/saudi-billionaire-prince-al-waleed-freed-after-settlement-doc-y10ws2|title= Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed freed after 'settlement'|date= 27 January 2018|work=Agence France-Presse|quote=The prince was released following an undisclosed financial agreement with the government, similar to deals that authorities struck with most other detainees in exchange for their freedom.|access-date= 27 January 2018}}
- Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, former deputy defense minister{{cite news|url= https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5038541,00.html|title= Saudis arrest 11 princes, dozens of ex-ministers in shake-up|date=4 November 2017|work=ynetnews|access-date= 5 November 2017}}
- Queen Fahda bint Falah, wife of King Salman and mother of Mohammad bin Salman himself. Under house arrest.{{cite news|work=NBC News|title=U.S. officials: Saudi crown prince has hidden his mother from his father, the king
|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-s-officials-saudi-crown-prince-has-hidden-his-mother-n847391|date=15 March 2018}}
- Prince Khaled bin Talal, brother of al-Waleed and businessman{{cite news|work=Middle East Monitor|title=Bin Salman re-arrests Prince Khaled Bin Talal days after his father's death|date=28 December 2018|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181228-bin-salman-re-arrests-prince-khaled-bin-talal-days-after-his-fathers-death/}}
- Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, former Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and former interior minister. Under house arrest.{{cite news|work=Middle East Eye|date=9 November 2017|title=Senior Saudi figures tortured and beaten in purge|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/exclusive-senior-figures-tortured-and-beaten-saudi-purge-1489501498}}
- Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah, former head of Saudi Arabian National Guard and son of King Abdullah.{{cite web|url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-04/saudi-national-guard-chief-economy-minister-out-in-reshuffle|title= Saudi Purge Sees Senior Princes, Top Billionaire Detained|author1= Donna Abu-Nasr|author2=Glen Carey|author3=Vivian Nereim|date= 4 November 2017|work=Bloomberg|access-date=5 November 2017}} He is seen as the most powerful of those arrested.
- Princess Reem bint al-Waleed bin Talal, daughter of al-Waleed bin Talal and businesswoman{{Cite web |last=Abisoye |first=Olusegun |date=2017-11-09 |title=Saudi Arabia Arrests Princess Reem As Bin Salman's Anti-Corruption War Continues |url=https://independent.ng/saudi-arabia-arrests-princess-reem-bin-salmans-anti-corruption-war-continues/ |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=Independent Nigeria}}
- Prince Turki bin Abdullah, another son of King Abdullah and former governor of Riyadh Province{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/05/saudi-arabia-arrests-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman|title=Saudi arrests show crown prince is a risk-taker with a zeal for reform|author=Patrick Wintour|date=5 November 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 November 2017}}
- Prince Faisal bin Abdullah, former head of the Saudi Red Crescent Society and another son of King Abdullah.{{cite web|title=Saudi Arabia: Prince in Incommunicado Detention|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/09/saudi-arabia-prince-incommunicado-detention|work=Human Rights Watch|access-date=9 May 2020|date=9 May 2020}}
- Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah, a former governor of Mecca and Najran provinces and another son of King Abdullah
- Prince Turki bin Nasser, former head of the presidency of meteorology and environment{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/05/middleeast/saudi-arabia-anti-corruption-list/index.html|title= Saudi anti-corruption sweep leads to high-profile arrests|author=Becky Anderson and Sarah El Sirgany|date= 4 November 2017|work=CNN|access-date= 5 November 2017}}
- Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer, former advisor at royal court{{cite news|title=The case of a Saudi prince illustrates a pattern of arbitrary detention|url=https://egyptindependent.com/the-case-of-a-saudi-prince-illustrates-a-pattern-of-arbitrary-detention/|access-date=16 August 2020|work=Egypt Independent|agency=CNN |date=17 April 2019}}
==Uncertain status==
- Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd, youngest son of King Fahd. There were rumors that Abdul Aziz, age 44, was killed while resisting arrest, but the Saudi information ministry released a statement saying that the prince was "alive and well."{{Cite news|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/mystery-surrounds-fate-late-king-fahd-s-son-amid-saudi-intrigue-1517142278|title=Mystery surrounds fate of late King Fahd's son amid Saudi crackdown|last=Akkad|first=Dania|date=8 November 2017|work=Middle East Eye|access-date=10 November 2017|language=en}}
- Prince Mansour bin Muqrin, deputy governor of Asir and son of former Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz. He was killed in a helicopter crash, though unconfirmed allegations have been made that his helicopter was shot down while he was attempting to flee the country.{{cite news|work=India Today|title=Saudi Purge: Reports claim Prince Muqrin helicopter did not crash, was shot down|date=9 November 2017|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/saudi-arabia-prince-bin-mugrin-helicopter-crash-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-1082661-2017-11-09}}{{cite web |title=Saudi Prince Killed While Trying to Flee amid Royal Purge: Source |url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/11/07/1567616/saudi-prince-killed-while-trying-to-flee-amid-royal-purge-source |publisher=Tasnim News Agency |access-date=6 October 2022}}
==Sanctioned==
- Prince Bandar bin Sultan, former Secretary General of the National Security Council and former head of the General Intelligence Presidency
=Politicians=
==Detained==
- Adel Fakeih, former Economy and Planning Minister
- Ibrahim Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, former finance minister
- Khaled al-Tuwaijri, former head of royal court
- Mohammad al-Tobaishi, former head of protocol at the Royal Court{{cite web|url= https://in.reuters.com/article/saudi-arrests-names/factbox-saudi-arabia-detains-princes-ministers-in-anti-corruption-probe-idINKBN1D507X|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171105061522/https://in.reuters.com/article/saudi-arrests-names/factbox-saudi-arabia-detains-princes-ministers-in-anti-corruption-probe-idINKBN1D507X|url-status= dead|archive-date= 5 November 2017|title=Factbox: Saudi Arabia detains princes, ministers in anti-corruption probe|date= 4 November 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=5 November 2017}}
=Military officers=
==Detained==
- Admiral Abdullah bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Sultan, Royal Saudi Navy Commander.{{cite news|author1=Alexandra Zavis|author2=Nabih Bulos|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-saudi-arabia-arrests-20171106-htmlstory.html|title=Q&A: Saudi Arabia's Game of Thrones: Who got caught in the widening corruption crackdown?|access-date=15 August 2020|work=Los Angeles Times|date=6 November 2017}}
- Major General Ali Al Qahtani, Saudi Arabian Army.{{cite web|title=The High Cost of Change Repression Under Saudi Crown Prince Tarnishes Reforms|url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2019/11/04/high-cost-change/repression-under-saudi-crown-prince-tarnishes-reforms|publisher=Human Rights Watch|access-date=18 April 2021|date=4 November 2019}} He died in custody.
= Businessmen and professionals =
== Detained ==
- Abdulrahman Fakieh, businessman{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-crackdown-escalates-with-arrests-of-top-military-officials-1510950402|title=Saudi Arabia Pursues Cash Settlements as Crackdown Expands|last1=Said|first1=Summer|date=17 November 2017|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=18 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117203754/https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-crackdown-escalates-with-arrests-of-top-military-officials-1510950402|archive-date=17 November 2017|url-status=dead|last2=Stancati|first2=Margherita|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}
- Amr Al-Dabbagh, businessman, CEO of Al-Dabbagh Group (ADG)
- Bakr bin Laden, chairman of the Saudi Binladin Group{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41874117|title= Saudi princes among dozens detained in 'corruption' purge|date=5 November 2017|work=BBC|access-date=5 November 2017}} and half-brother of Osama bin Laden
- Khalid Abdullah Almolhem, former head of Saudi Arabian Airlines
- Loai Nazer, prominent businessman
- Mansour al-Balawi, prominent businessman
- Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi, Ethio-Saudi billionaire businessman[https://web.archive.org/web/20171106163416/https://in.reuters.com/article/india-politics-religion-law/indias-cow-politics-idINKBN1D61FF Factbox: Saudi Arabia detains princes, ministers in anti-corruption probe], 5 November 2017, Reuters
- Nasser Al Tayyar, businessman, non-executive board member Al Tayyar Travel Group{{cite web|url=https://www.argaam.com/en/article/articledetail/id/513254|title= Al Tayyar says operating normally after founder's arrest|date=4 November 2017|work=Argaam|access-date=5 November 2017}}
- Saleh Abdullah Kamel, billionaire businessman, owner of Arab Radio and Television Network and founder of the Dallah al Baraka Group{{cite web|url= https://www.dailysabah.com/mideast/2017/11/05/alwaleed-bin-talal-two-other-billionaires-tycoons-among-saudi-arrests|title= Alwaleed bin Talal, two other billionaires tycoons among Saudi arrests |author= Daily Sabah with Agencies, Istanbul|date= 5 November 2017|work=Daily Sabah|access-date=5 November 2017}}
- Saoud al-Daweesh, former chief executive of Saudi Telecom Company
- Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, billionaire businessman, brother-in-law of King Fahd, Chairman of Middle East Broadcasting Company (MBC){{cite web|url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/igorbosilkovski/2017/11/04/saudi-billionaire-prince-alwaleed-bin-talal-reportedly-arrested-for-corruption/#c5e51ee5e251|title= Saudi Billionaire Prince Alwaleed Reportedly One of at Least A Dozen Arrested For Corruption|author=Igor Bosilkovski|date= 4 November 2017|work=Forbes|access-date=5 November 2017}}
- Zuhair Fayez, prominent businessman
- Walid Fitaihi, a physician with dual citizenship of Saudi Arabia and the US and master's degree in public health from Harvard University{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/02/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-torture-american-citizen.html|title=Saudi Arabia Is Said to Have Tortured an American Citizen|work=The New York Times|date=2 March 2019 |access-date=2 March 2019|last1=Kirkpatrick |first1=David D. }}
= Islamic scholars and media figures =
{{main|Saudi crackdown on Islamic scholars}}
== Detained ==
- Awad al-Qarni, Islamic scholar, author, and former professor{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-security-arrests-idUSKCN1BL129/|work=Reuters|date=10 September 2017|title=Saudi clerics detained in apparent bid to silence dissent}}{{cite news|date=13 September 2017|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/9/13/saudi-arabia-detains-more-preachers|title= Saudi Arabia 'detains' more preachers|work=Al-Jazeera}}{{cite news|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/two-leading-saudi-dissident-clerics-among-20-arrested-reports/|work=Middle East Eye|date=12 September 2017|title=Two leading Saudi dissident clerics among 20 arrested: Reports
}}
- Ali al-Omari, TV cleric and Chairman of the Mecca Open University{{cite news|work=Middle East Eye|date=5 September 2018|title=Saudi Arabia seeks death penalty for cleric Ali al-Omari|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-arabia-seeks-death-penalty-cleric-ali-al-omari}}
- Salman al-Ouda, Islamic scholar and member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars' board of trustees{{cite news|url=https://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/2017/09/28/saudi-university-dismissing-muslim-brotherhood-linked-academics/|work=Center for Security Policy|date=28 September 2017|title=Saudi University Dismissing Muslim Brotherhood-Linked Academics}}
- Safar al-Hawali, Islamic scholar, writer and co-founder of the Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights{{cite news|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-arrests/saudi-arabia-arrests-prominent-cleric-safar-al-hawali-activists-idUSKBN1K22PQ|title=Saudi Arabia arrests prominent cleric Safar al-Hawali: activists|date=12 July 2018}}
- Ibrahim al-Sakran, Islamic scholar, writer, researcher, lawyer and thinker.{{cn|date=November 2024}}
== Uncertain status ==
- Ahmed al-Amari, Islamic scholar and Dean of the Quran College at the Islamic University of Madinah. Died in custody, however there are unconfirmed allegations he was killed.{{cite news|work=Al Jazeera|title=Prominent Saudi scholar Ahmed al-Amari dies in prison: Activists|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/prominent-saudi-scholar-ahmed-al-amari-dies-prison-activists-190121180756186.html|date=21 January 2019}}
Reactions
According to Sam Blatteis, Middle East Public Policy Manager for Deloitte{{cite web |url= http://www.mei.edu/profile/sam-blatteis|title= Sam Blatteis|date= n.d.|work= Middle East Institute|access-date= 30 December 2017}} and a former Google head of public policy in the Persian Gulf, "This is the closest thing in the Middle East to glasnost"; other businessmen have compared the purge to Russian president Vladimir Putin's politically motivated attacks on Russian oligarchs. The Economist likened the purge to the anti-corruption campaign under Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party.{{cite news|title=The world should push the crown prince to reform Saudi Arabia, not wreck it|url=https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21731153-muhammad-bin-salman-seizes-all-power-saudi-arabia-world-should-push-crown-prince|access-date=11 November 2017|newspaper=The Economist|date=9 November 2017}} Thomas Friedman at The New York Times called it Saudi Arabia's Arab Spring.{{cite web|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/23/opinion/saudi-prince-mbs-arab-spring.html|title= Saudi Arabia's Arab Spring, at Last|author=Thomas L. Friedman|date= 23 November 2017 |work=The New York Times|access-date= 23 November 2017}}
In Saudi Arabia the purge was supported by the Council of Senior Scholars.{{cite news|title=Muhammad bin Salman has swept aside those who challenge his power|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21731172-arrest-rich-princes-and-shuffling-ministries-has-shocked|access-date=11 November 2017|newspaper=The Economist|date=9 November 2017}}
Aftermath
The 2017 purge of the Saudi political and business elite was followed in 2018 by arrests of 17 women's rights activists, including Aziza al-Yousef, Loujain al-Hathloul, Eman al-Nafjan, Aisha al-Mana and Madeha al-Ajroush as well as Hatoon al-Fassi, a women's rights activist and associate professor of women's history. Eastern Province human rights activist Israa al-Ghomgham and her husband, already in prison since December 2015, were under legal threat of beheading along with four colleagues, with a final hearing to take place on 28 October 2018 in the Specialized Criminal Court.
On 19 November 2020, some of the Saudi detainees from the night of the Ritz-Carlton corruption purge anonymously disclosed details of the torture they endured and coercion by Saudi Arabia. The detainees claim that they were beaten and intimidated by authorities under the supervision of two ministers, who were both close confidantes of the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman who ordered the purge.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/19/saudi-accounts-emerge-of-ritz-carlton-night-of-the-beating|title=Night of the beating': details emerge of Riyadh Ritz-Carlton purge|access-date=19 November 2020|website=The guardian|date=19 November 2020 }}
Nasser Al Qarni, the son of a prominent Saudi cleric, Awad Al-Qarni, who was arrested during the 2017 purge, was given a warning by the Saudi state security officials not to discuss the treatment of his father. Nasser was warned that doing so would lead to his imprisonment or execution. The criticism of the kingdom in Awad’s tweet led to his arrest in 2017. As a result of the threat from the state security, Nasser applied for asylum and moved to the UK.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-04/son-of-jailed-saudi-cleric-says-life-threatened-seeks-asylum-in-uk|title=Son of Jailed Saudi Cleric Says Life Threatened, Seeks Asylum in UK|access-date=4 October 2022|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=4 October 2022 }}
Committee conclusion
On 30 January 2019, the Saudi King Salman reviewed the final report submitted by the committee chairman stating that 381 individuals were ordered and some of them as witnesses. Settlements were made with 87 individuals resulting in the recovery of $107 billion in the form of real estate, companies, cash, and other assets.{{Cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2019/01/30/Saudi-king-presented-with-final-corruption-crackdown-report-107-bln-recovered.html|title=Saudi king presented with final corruption crackdown report, $107 bln recovered|work=Al Arabiya|date=30 January 2019 |language=en|access-date=30 January 2019}} The report also stated that Saudi Arabia's Public Prosecutor rejected the settlements with 56 individuals due to already existing criminal charges against them, while eight individuals denied the settlements and were referred to the Public Prosecutor.
See also
References
{{reflist|refs=
{{cite news | first= Bethan | last= McKernan | title= Saudi police arrest three more women's rights activists | date= 23 May 2018 | work= The Guardian | url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-womens-rights-activists-arrests-driving-a8364941.html | access-date= 23 May 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180524083758/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-womens-rights-activists-arrests-driving-a8364941.html | archive-date= 24 May 2018 | url-status= live}}
{{cite news| title=Saudis arrest another women's right activist| date=27 June 2018| publisher=Al Jazeera English| url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/06/saudis-arrest-women-activist-180627130433127.html| access-date=27 June 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627211907/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/06/saudis-arrest-women-activist-180627130433127.html| archive-date=27 June 2018| url-status=live}}
{{cite web | last1 = Brennan | first1 = David | title = Who Is Israa al-Ghomgham? Female Saudi Activist May Be Beheaded After Death Sentence | work=Newsweek | date = 21 August 2018 | url = https://www.newsweek.com/who-israa-al-ghomgham-female-saudi-activist-may-be-beheaded-after-death-1083499 | access-date = 24 August 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180824203039/https://www.newsweek.com/who-israa-al-ghomgham-female-saudi-activist-may-be-beheaded-after-death-1083499 | archive-date = 24 August 2018 | url-status = live}}
{{cite web| title =Saudi Prosecution Seeks Death Penalty for Female Activist| publisher =Human Rights Watch| date =21 August 2018| url =https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/21/saudi-prosecution-seeks-death-penalty-female-activist| access-date =23 August 2018| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180823061322/https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/21/saudi-prosecution-seeks-death-penalty-female-activist| archive-date =23 August 2018| url-status =live}}
{{cite news | last1= Abu Sneineh | first1= Mustafa | title= REVEALED: The Saudi death squad MBS uses to silence dissent | date= 22 October 2018 | publisher= Middle East Eye | url = https://www.middleeasteye.net/tiger-squad-saudi-hitmen-khashoggi-mbs |access-date=22 October 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181022232620/https://www.middleeasteye.net/tiger-squad-saudi-hitmen-khashoggi-mbs |archive-date= 22 October 2018 |url-status=live}}
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Category:Anti-corruption measures
Category:Law enforcement in Saudi Arabia
Category:Political history of Saudi Arabia
Category:November 2017 in Saudi Arabia