Saudi nabs 22 for ‘inciting public’ on social media

riyadh — Saudi Arabia has arrested 22 people, including a Qatari national, for “inciting public feelings” on social media, authorities said, following a crackdown on dissent.

Those detained had posted video clips online, the official Saudi Press Agency said citing a security source, adding that authorities were investigating their motives and connections.

“Their number is 22 people, one of them Qatari, and the rest are Saudis. Their motives and links are being verified,” SPA said.

They were arrested for “circulation of video clips on social networking sites inciting public feelings”, SPA added without any further details.

Saudi Arabia last month launched a crackdown on extremists, detaining some radical elements ahead of a historic government decision to allow women to drive.

Separately, SPA quoted the interior ministry as saying that 24 people were arrested in the northwestern province of Hail for “exploiting social networking sites to promote lies and exaggerations” with the aim of provoking “sedition and tribal tensions”. It was not clear whether the two sets of arrests were connected. —

their number is 22 people, one of them Qatari, and the rest are Saudis. their motives and links are being verified Saudi Press Agency