Saudi crackdown on Islamic scholars

In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases of Saudi authorities cracking down on prominent Islamic scholars, often accusing them of supporting extremism or spreading false information.

These arrests were part of a wider crackdown on dissent and criticism of the government, and the scholars were accused of a range of charges, including terrorism, incitement, and supporting extremist groups.

[8] In September 2017, the Saudi government arrested a number of prominent scholars and thinkers, including Salman al-Ouda, Awad al-Qarni, and Ali al-Omari.

[citation needed] Jamal Khashoggi, who was a prominent Saudi journalist and dissident, had decried the numerous arrests orchestrated by the crown prince's government in one of his final columns for The Washington Post.

"[12] Some scholars have also accused the government of abandoning traditional Islamic values in favor of political expediency, and of using its religious authority to legitimize its policies and suppress dissent.

[13] Madawi Al-Rasheed, a visiting professor at the Middle East Centre at LSE, has also contributed to the discussion, writing about the ongoing challenges facing Saudi Arabia.