'Spying Cell' in Saudi Arabia Sought Foreign Financing

Dr. Ibrahim al-Nahas
Dr. Ibrahim al-Nahas
TT

'Spying Cell' in Saudi Arabia Sought Foreign Financing

Dr. Ibrahim al-Nahas
Dr. Ibrahim al-Nahas

Members of a “spying cell,” arrested by Saudi Arabia’s state security presidency two days ago, sought to “incite strife by communicating with foreign entities hostile to Saudi Arabia and to establish a false legal organization, according to information received by Asharq Al-Awsat from informed sources.

The sources said most suspects of this cell claim to have religious obligations and were using human rights as a pretext to violate the country’s systems. One of the arrested suspects had volunteered to defend people who tried to produce chaos and incite strife inside the Kingdom, according to the sources.

Another member of the cell had contacted a foreign entity “hostile to Saudi Arabia, to receive financial support in exchange of continuing to incite trouble.”

Dr. Ibrahim al-Nahas, member of Shura Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, told Asharq Al-Awsat on Saturday that the Kingdom is capable to overpass many security challenges thanks to the vigilance of its security apparatus.

For his part, Dr. Yusuf Al-Rumaih, professor of criminology at Al- Qassim University told Asharq Al-Awsat that “Saudi Arabia is a state built on the basis of justice and it enshrines the principal of equality of all persons before the law.”

Earlier, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted the security spokesman of the Presidency of State Security as saying that 7 people have been arrested for suspicious communication with foreign entities and actions against the state.



It said authorities detected coordinated activities by a group of people, who carried out an organized work to violate the religious and national principles of the state.

“They also had communications with foreign entities to support their activities and also sought to recruit persons working in sensitive government posts as well as providing financial support to hostile elements abroad with the objective of undermining the Kingdom’s security and stability, its social peace and national cohesion,” the spokesperson added.



Saudi Arabia, Egypt Discuss Developments in Syria, Gaza

 The flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers is displayed, in the Bab Touma district of the Old City of Damascus, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 22, 2024. (Reuters)
The flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers is displayed, in the Bab Touma district of the Old City of Damascus, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 22, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

Saudi Arabia, Egypt Discuss Developments in Syria, Gaza

 The flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers is displayed, in the Bab Touma district of the Old City of Damascus, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 22, 2024. (Reuters)
The flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers is displayed, in the Bab Touma district of the Old City of Damascus, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 22, 2024. (Reuters)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held telephone talks on Monday with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty.

Discussions focused on the latest developments in Syria.

A statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Abdelatty stressed “the importance of supporting the Syrian state during this critical moment in Syria’s history.”

He underscored the need to respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to empower its national institutions.

He called for the adoption of a comprehensive political process, led by the Syrian people, so that stability can be restored throughout their country.

The FMs also discussed the latest developments in Gaza, with Abdellaty briefing Prince Faisal on Egypt’s “intense efforts with all concerned parties to reach an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and to ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid.”