Saudi Crackdown: King Salman's Brother and Nephew Detained

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly detained high-profile members of the royal family. That includes former crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, as well as Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the younger brother of the Saudi King.

Reports suggest that they have both been accused of treason. Saudi guards have also arrested one of Mohammed Bin Nayef's brothers. They are now likely under threat of life imprisonment or possible execution. Both could have been rivals to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the throne when King Salman dies.

Al Jazeera’s Jamal Elshayyal explains what these detentions mean for the kingdom and their impact on Saudi politics. We are also joined by Khalil Jahshan, the executive director of Arab Center Washington, DC.

Saudi Crown Prince Allegedly Stripped of Some Authority

THE GUARDIAN: Series of Mohammed bin Salman no-shows at high-profile meetings fed claims of rift with king

The heir to the Saudi throne has not attended a series of high-profile ministerial and diplomatic meetings in Saudi Arabia over the last fortnight and is alleged to have been stripped of some of his financial and economic authority, the Guardian has been told.

The move to restrict, if only temporarily, the responsibilities of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is understood to have been revealed to a group of senior ministers earlier last week by his father, King Salman.

The king is said to have asked Bin Salman to be at this cabinet meeting, but he failed to attend.

While the move has not been declared publicly, the Guardian has been told that one of the king’s trusted advisers, Musaed al-Aiban, who was educated at Harvard and recently named as national security adviser, will informally oversee investment decisions on the king’s behalf.

The Saudi embassy in Washington has declined multiple requests for comment since the Guardian approached it on Tuesday. » | Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington, and Nick Hopkins in London | Monday, March 18, 2019

Fears Grow of Rift between Saudi King and Crown Prince

THE GUARDIAN: King Salman said to have been angered by recent moves by Prince Mohammed against him

There are growing signs of a potentially destabilising rift between the king of Saudi Arabia and his heir, the Guardian has been told.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are understood to have disagreed over a number of important policy issues in recent weeks, including the war in Yemen.

The unease is said to have been building since the murder in Turkey of the dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which the CIA has reportedly concluded was ordered by Prince Mohammed. However, these tensions increased dramatically in late February when the king, 83, visited Egypt and was warned by his advisers he was at risk of a potential move against him, according to a detailed account from a source.

His entourage was so alarmed at the possible threat to his authority that a new security team, comprised of more than 30 hand-picked loyalists from the interior ministry, was flown to Egypt to replace the existing team. » | Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington and Nick Hopkins in London | Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Saudi King Salman Announces Government Reshuffle | Al Jazeera English

Saudi Arabia's King Salman has announced a major reshuffle of his cabinet. Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has been replaced and a new political and security council has been formed. Marwan Kabalan, head of policy analysis at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, talks to Al Jazeera about what could be behind the shuffle.

Eight Saudi Princes Want King Salman Ousted: Report

A new report reveals that eight of the 12 surviving sons of Saudi Arabia’s founding monarch are supporting a palace coup to oust King Salman. British daily, the Independent, quoted an unnamed Saudi prince as saying that there is an increasing pressure within the royal family to end the internal power struggle that has erupted since King Salman inherited the throne early this year. He said a clear majority of powerful clerics also back the move to oust the current King and install his younger brother, Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, in his place. The prince also predicted that eventually either King Salman will step down or Prince Ahmed will become Crown Prince, with full control over the whole country. The prince, who was not named for quote-security reasons, is reportedly the author of two recently published letters calling for the royal family to replace the current Saudi leadership. Guest: Brian Downing Political Commentator.

Saudi King Says Consensus with Russia on Broadening Relations

Saudi Arabia's King Salman has met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. He's the first Saudi monarch in history to visit Russia. Russia and Saudi Arabia have agreed to work together to unite Syria's opposition. Al Jazeera’s Rory Challands reports from Moscow.

Saudi King Salman Meets Vladimir Putin in Russia: "Oil Is a Giant Factor Here!"

Qatar Crisis: "Saudi King Salman Knows He Has the Ear of Trump, the Most Powerful Man in the World"

Saudi Royal Calls for Regime Change in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia's King Salman. One Saudi royal claims that the
king's son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 'is ruling the country'.

THE GUARDIAN: Plea by grandson of state’s founder comes as falling oil prices, war in Yemen and loss of faith in authority buffet leadership of King Salman

A senior Saudi prince has launched an unprecedented call for change in the country’s leadership, as it faces its biggest challenge in years in the form of war, plummeting oil prices and criticism of its management of Mecca, scene of last week’s hajj tragedy.

The prince, one of the grandsons of the state’s founder, Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, has told the Guardian that there is disquiet among the royal family – and among the wider public – at the leadership of King Salman, who acceded the throne in January.

The prince, who is not named for security reasons, wrote two letters earlier this month calling for the king to be removed.

“The king is not in a stable condition and in reality the son of the king [Mohammed bin Salman] is ruling the kingdom,” the prince said. “So four or possibly five of my uncles will meet soon to discuss the letters. They are making a plan with a lot of nephews and that will open the door. A lot of the second generation is very anxious.”

“The public are also pushing this very hard, all kinds of people, tribal leaders,” the prince added. “They say you have to do this or the country will go to disaster.” » | Hugh Miles in Cairo | Monday, September 28, 2015

House of Saud: Letter Calls for Saudi King to Be Replaced

The backstairs intrigue within the House of Saud has seen a letter circulating among members of the royal family. It calls for the Saudi king and deputy crown prince to be replaced.

The President Meets with the King of Saudi Arabia

President Obama delivers remarks before meeting with King Salman bin Abd alAziz of Saudi Arabia. September 4, 2015.

ARUTZ SHEVA: Saudi King Meets Obama, Reiterates Concern Over Iran Deal: King Salman of Saudi Arabia meets Obama in Washington, his first visit to the United States since assuming the throne. » | Ben Ariel, Canada | Saturday, September 5, 2015

Saudi Arabia Awards Preacher Who Says Muslims Can Have Sex with Slaves Top Prize and £130,000 for Services to Islam

DAILY MAIL: Dr Zakir Naik has also said George Bush was behind the 9/11 terror attacks / In 2010 he was banned from entering the UK for his inflammatory remarks / His edict on slaves echoes the doctrines of Iraq's Islamic State insurgency

The king of Saudi Arabia has handed his country's most-prestigious prize to a preacher who has previously said the Koran allows Muslims to have sex with female slaves.

Indian cleric Zakir Naik, who has also said 9/11 was an inside job, was handed the King Faisal International Prize for Services to Islam at a glittering ceremony in Riyadh.

A physician by training, the Mumbai-based 49-year-old has carved out a career as a charismatic television preacher, but his controversial views have led to him being banned from entering the UK.

Dr Naik was one of five winners presented a gold medal, a certificate hand written in Arabic calligraphy and an endowment of more than £130,000 by Saudi King Salman during a ceremony at a luxury hotel yesterday.

The president of the Islamic Research Foundation in India, Dr Naik was honoured for being one of the most renowned non-Arabic speaking promoters of Islam.

He founded the Peace TV channel, billed as the world's only channel specialising in comparative religion, which now reaches an estimated English-language audience exceeding 100million, according to his award citation.

'Islam is the only religion that can bring peace to the whole of humanity,' he said in a video biography aired at the ceremony. It was on a broadcast on Peace TV that Dr Naik suggested that Muslims men may rape their slaves. » | AFP and Damien Gayle for MailOnline | Monday, March 02, 2015