Jailed prince caught in Twitter firestorm
LONDON: Saudi Twitter users have sent thousands of tweets accusing the kingdom’s former crown prince and his long-time aide of corruption, in what Saudi sources said was a campaign to discredit him ahead of a possible indictment, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman moves to sideline rivals to the throne.
The tweets against Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who was ousted and replaced as heir to the throne by the crown prince in a palace coup in 2017, began on Friday and also targeted his aide, ex-intelligence official Saad al-Jabri.
The Twitter storm comes as King Salman, 84, was admitted to hospital in the capital Riyadh on Monday, suffering from inflammation of the gall bladder, according to state news agency SPA. The government’s media office declined to comment further on his condition.
The Saudi sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the campaign by apparent pro-government Twitter users was aimed at swaying public opinion ahead of an expected announcement of corruption charges against Mohammed bin Nayef.
“They have been preparing documents against him since March,” said one of source, who is familiar with the matter, adding that those behind the Twitter campaign wanted to “smear his image domestically”.
The second Saudi source said the campaign clearly had government backing since prominent Saudis close to the crown prince — known by the initials MbS — were amplifying the tweets.
Prior to his ouster, Mohammed bin Nayef was seen as the most significant rival for the throne. He controlled the country’s security forces, developed close ties to Western intelligence agencies, and remains popular among conservatives sidelined by the crown prince.
The Saudi government’s media office did not respond to a request for comment.
Saudi authorities detained him in March and he is being held along with two other senior royals in an undisclosed location. Mr Jabri is in exile in Canada, while his two adult children were also detained by Saudi authorities in March.
Mr Jabri’s son Khalid said in a text message that the Twitter campaign was a “deflection from the actual story: hostage taking of my brother and sister, unlawful persecution and false allegations”.
In June, well-connected Saudi sources said that MbS was seeking to press charges against Mohammed bin Nayef relating to allegations of corruption during his time at the interior ministry and wanted documents to which Mr Jabri had access.
The moves against Mohammed bin Nayef are the latest in a series of measures seen aimed at consolidating MbS’s strength within the ruling al-Saud family and removing perceived threats to his power ahead of an eventual succession upon the king’s death or abdication.
The first source said MbS’ aides were “accelerating the campaign” against the former crown prince ahead of November’s US presidential election in case President Donald Trump — who has publicly voiced support for MbS — loses.