2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge explained

2017–19 Saudi Arabian purge
Date:4 November 2017 – 30 January 2019
Location:Saudi Arabia
Type:Governmental purge
Patrons:-->
Organizers:-->
Arrests:381
Blank Data:-->
Blank1 Data:-->
Blank2 Data:-->

The 2017–19 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.

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. 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 planned city of Neom on 24 October 2017),[1] which subsequently stopped accepting new bookings and told guests to leave.[2] Private jets were also grounded to prevent suspects from fleeing the country.

As many as 500 people were rounded up in the sweep.[3] Saudi Arabian banks froze more than 2,000 domestic accounts as part of the crackdown.[4] According to The Wall Street Journal, the Saudi government targeted cash and assets worth up to $800 billion.[5] 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.[6]

The anti-corruption committee ended its mission on 30 January 2019, concluding that 381 individuals were apprehended, some of them were able to give their testimony, and $107 billion was recovered to the state treasury as a result.[7] [8]

Allegations

The allegations include money laundering, bribery, extorting officials, and taking advantage of public office for personal gain.[9]

Tiger Squad

See main article: 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, 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 the 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 for releasing them, whereas silent murder covers it up quietly. Prince Mansour bin Muqrin died when his personal aircraft crashed,[10] 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 airforce 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.[11]

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".[12] [9]

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.[13]

List of involved people

Those arrested, detained, sanctioned or removed from their posts include, but are not limited to:

Royals

Detained

Uncertain status

Sanctioned

Politicians

Detained

Military officers

Detained

Businessmen and professionals

Detained

Islamic Scholars and Media Figures

See main article: Saudi crackdown on Islamic scholars.

Detained

Uncertain status

Reactions

According to Sam Blatteis, Middle East Public Policy Manager for Deloitte[46] 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.[47] Thomas Friedman at The New York Times called it Saudi Arabia's Arab Spring.[48]

In Saudi Arabia the purge was supported by the Council of Senior Scholars.[48] [49]

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.[50]

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 an asylum and moved to the UK.[51]

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.[8] Settlements were made with 87 individuals resulting in the recovery of  $107 billion in the form of real estate, companies, cash, and other assets.[52] 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.[8] [7] [52]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Saudi Arabia Arrests 11 Princes, Including Billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal. David Kirkpatrick. 4 November 2017. The New York Times. 5 November 2017.
  2. News: Saudi Arabia's unprecedented shake-up. The Economist. 5 November 2017. 6 November 2017.
  3. News: Ritz-Carlton Has Become a Gilded Cage for Saudi Royals. Nicholas Kulish. 6 November 2017. The New York Times.
  4. 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
  5. News: The Saudi purge will spook global investors and unsettle oil markets. 11 November 2017. The Economist. 9 November 2017.
  6. Web site: Saudi Crackdown Escalates With Arrests of Top Military Officials. Pavel Golovkin. 17 November 2017. MSN. 18 November 2017. 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. 1 December 2017. dead.
  7. News: Saudi Arabia closes 15-month anti-corruption campaign: SPA. 30 January 2019. Reuters. 30 January 2019. en.
  8. Web site: Statement by the Royal Court: Anti Corruption Committee Concludes its Tasks the official Saudi Press Agency. www.spa.gov.sa. 30 January 2019.
  9. Web site: Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman widens purge . 6 November 2017 . . . . Mostefa . Souag . Al . Anstey . 1 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210201222747/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-widens-purge-171106104312835.html . 8 November 2017 .
  10. News: Saudi Arabia Arrests 11 Princes, Including Prominent Billionaire . A1 . 5 November 2017 . 21 January 2021 . . New York City, New York, United States of America . David D. . Kirkpatrick . Eric . Schmitt . 4 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210304160458/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/04/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-waleed-bin-talal.html .
  11. Web site: Alex . Lockie . John . Haltiwanger . 18 October 2018 . 21 January 2022 . . New York City, New York, United States of America . Insider Inc. (Axel Springer SE) . One of the men suspected of killing Jamal Khashoggi reportedly died in a car crash after returning to Saudi Arabia . 4 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200604193702/https://www.businessinsider.com/khashoggi-suspect-mashal-saad-al-bostani-reportedly-dead-in-car-crash-2018-10 . Nicholas . Carlson . Nicholas Carlson .
  12. Web site: Saudi Arabia princes detained, ministers dismissed . 5 November 2017 . . 8 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200319122458/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/saudi-ministers-national-guard-economy-dismissed-171104190619900.html . 19 March 2020 . . . Mostefa . Souag . Al . Anstey .
  13. News: Saudi prince behind sweep of arrests is known as young and brash, but has Trump's ear . Dorell . Oren . 5 November 2017 . . 8 November 2017. en . 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 . 17 April 2021 . Nicole . Carroll . Nicole Carroll . McLean, Virginia, United States of America . . 0734-7456 .
  14. Web site: Saudi Arabia arrests 11 princes, including billionaire investor Prince al-Waleed bin Talal. Michelle Mark. 4 November 2017. Business Insider. 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.. 5 November 2017.
  15. Web site: Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed freed after 'settlement'. 27 January 2018. Agence France-Presse. 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.. 27 January 2018.
  16. News: Saudis arrest 11 princes, dozens of ex-ministers in shake-up. 4 November 2017. ynetnews. 5 November 2017.
  17. News: NBC News. U.S. officials: Saudi crown prince has hidden his mother from his father, the king. 15 March 2018.
  18. News: Middle East Monitor. Bin Salman re-arrests Prince Khaled Bin Talal days after his father's death. 28 December 2018.
  19. News: Middle East Eye. 9 November 2017. Senior Saudi figures tortured and beaten in purge.
  20. Web site: Saudi Purge Sees Senior Princes, Top Billionaire Detained. Donna Abu-Nasr. Glen Carey. Vivian Nereim. 4 November 2017. Bloomberg. 5 November 2017.
  21. Web site: Abisoye . Olusegun . 2017-11-09 . Saudi Arabia Arrests Princess Reem As Bin Salman's Anti-Corruption War Continues . 2023-03-20 . Independent Nigeria.
  22. Web site: Saudi arrests show crown prince is a risk-taker with a zeal for reform. Patrick Wintour. 5 November 2017. The Guardian. 5 November 2017.
  23. Web site: Saudi Arabia: Prince in Incommunicado Detention. Human Rights Watch. 9 May 2020. 9 May 2020.
  24. Web site: Saudi anti-corruption sweep leads to high-profile arrests. Becky Anderson and Sarah El Sirgany. 4 November 2017. CNN. 5 November 2017.
  25. News: The case of a Saudi prince illustrates a pattern of arbitrary detention. 16 August 2020. Egypt Independent. CNN . 17 April 2019.
  26. News: Mystery surrounds fate of late King Fahd's son amid Saudi crackdown. Akkad. Dania. 8 November 2017. Middle East Eye. 10 November 2017. en.
  27. News: India Today. Saudi Purge: Reports claim Prince Muqrin helicopter did not crash, was shot down. 9 November 2017.
  28. Web site: Saudi Prince Killed While Trying to Flee amid Royal Purge: Source . Tasnim News Agency . 6 October 2022.
  29. Web site: Factbox: Saudi Arabia detains princes, ministers in anti-corruption probe. 4 November 2017. Reuters. 5 November 2017.
  30. News: Alexandra Zavis. Nabih Bulos. Q&A: Saudi Arabia's Game of Thrones: Who got caught in the widening corruption crackdown?. 15 August 2020. Los Angeles Times. 6 November 2017.
  31. Web site: The High Cost of Change Repression Under Saudi Crown Prince Tarnishes Reforms. Human Rights Watch. 18 April 2021. 4 November 2019.
  32. News: Saudi Arabia Pursues Cash Settlements as Crackdown Expands. Said. Summer. 17 November 2017. Wall Street Journal. 18 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171117203754/https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-crackdown-escalates-with-arrests-of-top-military-officials-1510950402. 17 November 2017. dead. Stancati. Margherita. en-US. 0099-9660.
  33. Web site: Saudi princes among dozens detained in 'corruption' purge. 5 November 2017. BBC. 5 November 2017.
  34. https://in.reuters.com/article/india-politics-religion-law/indias-cow-politics-idINKBN1D61FF Factbox: Saudi Arabia detains princes, ministers in anti-corruption probe
  35. Web site: Al Tayyar says operating normally after founder's arrest. 4 November 2017. Argaam. 5 November 2017.
  36. Web site: Alwaleed bin Talal, two other billionaires tycoons among Saudi arrests . Daily Sabah with Agencies, Istanbul. 5 November 2017. Daily Sabah. 5 November 2017.
  37. Web site: Saudi Billionaire Prince Alwaleed Reportedly One of at Least A Dozen Arrested For Corruption. Igor Bosilkovski. 4 November 2017. Forbes. 5 November 2017.
  38. News: Saudi Arabia Is Said to Have Tortured an American Citizen. The New York Times. 2 March 2019 . 2 March 2019. Kirkpatrick . David D. .
  39. News: Saudi clerics detained in apparent bid to silence dissent. Reuters. 10 September 2017.
  40. News: 13 September 2017. Saudi Arabia 'detains' more preachers. Al-Jazeera.
  41. News: Two leading Saudi dissident clerics among 20 arrested: Reports. Middle East Eye. 12 September 2017.
  42. News: Middle East Eye. 5 September 2018. Saudi Arabia seeks death penalty for cleric Ali al-Omari.
  43. News: Saudi University Dismissing Muslim Brotherhood-Linked Academics. Center for Security Policy. 28 September 2017.
  44. News: Reuters. Saudi Arabia arrests prominent cleric Safar al-Hawali: activists. 12 July 2018.
  45. News: Al Jazeera. Prominent Saudi scholar Ahmed al-Amari dies in prison: Activists. 21 January 2019.
  46. Web site: Sam Blatteis. n.d.. Middle East Institute. 30 December 2017.
  47. News: The world should push the crown prince to reform Saudi Arabia, not wreck it. 11 November 2017. The Economist. 9 November 2017.
  48. Web site: Saudi Arabia's Arab Spring, at Last. Thomas L. Friedman. 23 November 2017 . The New York Times. 23 November 2017.
  49. News: Muhammad bin Salman has swept aside those who challenge his power. 11 November 2017. The Economist. 9 November 2017.
  50. Web site: Night of the beating': details emerge of Riyadh Ritz-Carlton purge. 19 November 2020. The guardian. 19 November 2020 .
  51. News: Son of Jailed Saudi Cleric Says Life Threatened, Seeks Asylum in UK. 4 October 2022. Bloomberg.com. 4 October 2022 .
  52. Web site: Saudi king presented with final corruption crackdown report, $107 bln recovered. Al Arabiya. 30 January 2019 . en. 30 January 2019.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.