Saudi Cleric Jailed for Remarks in Support of Iran, Hezbollah

Ayatollah Hussein al-Radhi, a prominent Shiite cleric in Saudi Arabia, was arrested by regime forces after a recent speech in support of Iran and the Lebanese Resistance Movement, Hezbollah, local reports said.

In his recent remarks in a mosque in the al-Ahsa region of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, Ayatollah Radhi had denounced the Saudi-led Persian Gulf Cooperation Council’s recent move to put Hezbollah on its so-called terror list, saying the Lebanese group’s crime is to fight against the Zionist regime of Israel and Takfiri militants from the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group.

He further described Israel as the enemy of Muslims and called on Riyadh to stop its hostilities toward Hezbollah and Iran and to unite with the two against the Tel Aviv regime.

The top cleric went on to say that Saudi Arabia should avoid interfering in the internal affairs of Yemen, Syria, Libya and Bahrain and “leave them alone”.

Riyadh has been under fire from international organizations and rights groups over its heinous crimes in Yemen and its meddling in the affairs of several other Arab countries.

Media reports said on Tuesday that security forces arrested Ayatollah Radhi shortly after he led prayers in al-Ahsa.

The cleric had also written an article criticizing the Al Saud for jailing and executing critics and dissidents, including Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr who was beheaded in January.

The Shiite-dominated Eastern Province has been the scene of peaceful demonstrations since February 2011.

Protesters have been demanding reforms, freedom of expression and the release of political prisoners. They want an end to economic and religious discrimination against the region.