Saudi crackdown on Islamic scholars

The Saudi crackdown on Islamic scholars refers to a series of actions taken by the Saudi Arabian government against various prominent Islamic scholars and thinkers within the country. The crackdown began in late 2017 and has continued to the present day, with many scholars being arrested and jailed, while others have been banned from speaking or writing.

Saudi Arabia has a long history of controlling and limiting the activities of Islamic scholars, particularly those who promote dissent or challenge the government's authority. 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.

Since Mohammad bin Salman, son of Saudi King Salman, was crowned in June 2017 dozens of Islamic scholars, imams, volunteers and members of the royal family have been arrested. Saudi authorities arrested dozens of high-profile Islamic scholars, including Sheikh Salman al-Awda, Sheikh Awad al-Qarni, and Sheikh Ali al-Omari. 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.

In 2018, the Saudi government also arrested and detained several prominent women's rights activists, including several who had spoken out against the country's strict gender segregation laws. These arrests were widely criticized by human rights groups, who accused the government of silencing dissent and cracking down on basic human rights.

Saudi Arabia's government has made some efforts in recent years to loosen restrictions on religious expression, the country continues to tightly control the activities of Islamic scholars and other religious figures.