Media: 11 Saudi princes detained following protest
Saudi authorities detained 11 princes after they gathered at a royal palace in Riyadh in a rare protest against austerity measures that included suspending payment of their utility bills, Saudi media reported on Saturday.
Saudi officials did not respond immediately to a request for a comment on the report, Reuters wrote.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, has introduced reforms that included cutting subsidies, introducing value-added tax (VAT) and cutting perks to royal family members to try to cope with a drop in crude prices that has caused a budget deficit estimated at 195 billion riyals in 2018.
Online news website sabq. org said the princes had gathered at the Qasr a-hokm, a historic royal palace, demanding the cancelation of a royal decree that stopped state payment of water and electricity bills for royal family members.
They were also demanding compensation for a death sentence issued against a relative, sabq.org said.
“They were informed of the error of their demands, but they refused to leave Qasr al-hokm,” it added, quoting unidentified sources. “A royal order was issued to the royal guards ... to intervene and they were detained and put into Alhayer prison in preparation to put them on trial.”
It gave no details on the identity of the princes but said the leader of the group had been identified by the initials S.A.S.
Saudi Arabia last year rounded up dozens of royal family members, current and former senior officials on the order of the Anticorruption Committee headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in a crackdown, which is widely believed to be aimed at consolidating his power.
The detained individuals are facing allegations of money laundering, bribery, extorting officials and misappropriation of public funds for personal benefits.
Political analysts say Saudi King Salman plans to relinquish power in favor of his son who is pursuing a self-promotion campaign under the cover of tackling high-level corruption.
Pundits believe the targeting of Saudi Arabia’s longstanding elite represents a shift from family rule to a more authoritarian style of governance based on a single man.