Princes jailed for utility bill protest

SAUDI ARABIA: Eleven Saudi princes sulking after being told to pay their own electricity and water bills staged a sit-in at a royal palace in protest against their relative, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The princes are among millions of Saudis facing reduced circumstances because of policies outlined by the crown prince as part of his attempts to reform the economy. However, unlike many protests theirs has been publicised by the regime, delighted at the opportunity to show that the reforms apply to all classes of society.

The protesting royals were arrested after ‘‘disrupting public peace and order’’ at Qasr al-Hokm palace, according to a statement from Saud al-Mojeb, the attorneygeneral. ‘‘Members of the security services stepped in to restore order and the princes were arrested,’’ he added. ‘‘They have been charged on a number of counts in relation to these offences.’’

The princes, who have not been named, are being held at the highsecurity al-Hair prison.

The most recent austerity measures, intended to help to balance the budget as oil prices remain low, included a doubling of petrol prices and the imposition of VAT on most goods. They have caused widespread discontent and the crown prince backtracked partially at the weekend by ordering a rise in living subsidies to government employees, a large part of the native workforce. The effect on the huge handouts made to the royal family’s estimated 10,000 princes has not been made public.

The princes involved in the protest were said by the attorneygeneral to have also been complaining about a death sentence carried out against one of their relatives, and demanding compensation.