7 Saudis held for anti-state activities

CHARGES INCLUDE SUSPICIOUS CONTACTS WITH FOREIGN ENTITIES AMONG OTHERS

Charges include having contacts with foreign entities, recruiting men in sensitive government positions |

Seven people — four men and three women — have been arrested in Saudi Arabia for suspicious links with foreign entities and for recruiting people in sensitive government positions.

The spokesperson for the Presidency of State Security said that the arrests were made after “the competent authority monitored coordinated activities by a group of people through which they violated the country’s religious and national values.”

Challenge to security

According to the statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the seven “had suspicious contacts with external parties to support their activities, recruited people working in sensitive government positions and provided financial support to hostile elements abroad in order to undermine the security, stability and social peace of the Kingdom and harm its national unity.” The arrests were based on Article 12 of the Basic Law of Governance which stipulates that national unity must be strengthened and protected from strife and division, the spokesperson added.

The authorities are still investigating the case and working on identifying other possible suspects who had links to the activities of those who had been arrested, he said.