Saudi king blamed Mossad for 9/11-Former US ambassador to Kingdom
The former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia said in an interview this week that following 9/11, Saudi King Salman had insisted to him that the Mossad was responsible for the attacks. “One of my first calls was with then-governor of Riyadh… Prince Salman, who is now the king. His response was very emphatic [that] this […]
Saudi-led coalition invades Yemen with ground forces
The United Arab Emirates has deployed a brigade of ground troops, along with tanks and armored vehicles, to assist pro-government forces fighting in Yemen. Quoting senior Yemeni and U.S. military officials on Monday, The New York Times reports Emirati troops arriving in the country and taking part in an assault on its largest air base. […]
Saudi Arabia says free speech is a violation of religious and ideological rights
Saudi Arabia has reiterated its call for a global blasphemy law, claiming that free speech leads to violations of “religious and ideological rights.” Abdulmajeed Al-Omari, the director for external relations at the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, a government body which is tasked with “propagating Islam”, was quoted by the Saudi Gazette as saying, “freedom […]
Saudi king Salman cuts short controversial holiday in France
King Salman of Saudi Arabia has cut short a holiday on the French Riviera where the closure of a beach for his security caused an uproar. After only eight days of what was planned as a three-week stay, the king flew on to Morocco, officials said. With him were at least half of his 1,000-strong […]
Saudi Arabia calls on world to ban criticism of religion
Saudi Arabia has called on the international community to ban all criticism of religion. At a July 25 symposium on media coverage of religious symbols in international law, Abdulmajeed Al-Omari, director for external relations at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, said: “We have made it clear that freedom of expression without limits or restrictions would […]
Saudi Arabia arrests 431 linked to ISIS group
Saudi Arabia has arrested 431 people with suspected links to the Islamic State group and in the process thwarted a wave of suicide bombings that were to target mosques and security forces, the interior ministry announced on Saturday. Authorities have “managed over the past few weeks to destroy an organisation made of a cluster of […]
Saudi Arabia Woman Films Bizarre Pursuit By Religious Police In A Mall
Saudi Arabia’s notorious religious police are used to getting their way in shopping centres, never hesitating to sharply rebuke women who they believe aren’t dressed “appropriately”. But last Monday, agents found themselves face to face with a woman who made sure she had the last word. The incident took place in Riyadh’s Nakheel Mall shopping […]
Former Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal dies
Former Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal has died, Saudi sources said, two months after he was replaced following 40 years in the job. Prince Saud, who was appointed in 1975, was the world’s longest serving foreign minister when he was replaced on April 29 by Adel al-Jubeir, the then ambassador to Washington. Prince Saud […]
Saudi comedian gets death threats and huge ratings for TV show that mocks ISIS
A NEW TV satire has become a hit in the Arab world by using dark comedy to mock some of the region’s most serious issues, from the Sunni-Shiite divide, to the brutality of the Islamic State group (ISIS). The show, Selfie, has also brought a backlash. ISIS sympathisers have made death threats against its Saudi […]
Saudi prince sues Forbes for not listing him in top ten
Despite hosting two of the holiest cities in Islam, the Saudis are not known for their humility. This is again proven today in that Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a nephew of King Abdullah, has sued Forbes magazine for libel in a British court, alleging its valuation of his wealth at $20 billion was […]
