Saudi Crown Prince Orders Prosecution of Those Involved in Riyadh Fire Incidents

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. SPA
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. SPA
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Saudi Crown Prince Orders Prosecution of Those Involved in Riyadh Fire Incidents

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. SPA
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. SPA

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has issued a directive to refer those involved in the recent spike in cases of fire incidents in Riyadh to the judiciary.

He also called for reviewing the conditions necessary for practicing commercial activities and holding accountable negligent officials and violating owners.

This came in statements delivered by Prince Muhammad bin Abdulrahman, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region, Saudi news state agency reported.

According to the statements, the Crown Prince called for investigating the causes of the recent spike in fire incidents in Riyadh, and finding ways to reduce them.

The Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region revealed that, in cooperation with the Anti-Corruption Authority, financial and administrative corruption cases were detected. It was also revealed that the owners of commercial establishments did not comply with the necessary requirements for practicing commercial activities issued by the relevant authorities.

Prince Muhammad bin Abdulrahman said he reviewed the results of the investigations, after which the Crown Prince issued a directive to refer those who were proven involved in those corrupt cases to the judiciary and called for establishing a committee from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Housing and Civil Defense to define the inspection tasks assigned to each party provided that it submits its report within five days.

The directive also assigns the Ministry of Interior represented by (Civil Defense and the High Authority for Industrial Security) and the Ministry of Rural Municipal Affairs and Housing to reconsider the safety requirements and activities permitted to be practiced in populated sites, criminalize violators of the regulatory authorities ‘regulations.

The Crown Prince also called the relevant authorities to make a new study over the requirements for practicing commercial activities, hold accountable negligent officials and violating business owners, and take the necessary actions against them in accordance with the regulations and instructions provided by the Supervision and Anti-Corruption Commission.



Saudi Arabia to Switch from SQP to Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with IAEA 

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud speaks during 10th Arab-China Business Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 11, 2023. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud speaks during 10th Arab-China Business Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 11, 2023. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Saudi Arabia to Switch from SQP to Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with IAEA 

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud speaks during 10th Arab-China Business Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 11, 2023. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud speaks during 10th Arab-China Business Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 11, 2023. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said the Kingdom has submitted a request to the IAEA in July 2024 to rescind the Small Quantities Protocol and implement to the full Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.

His remarks came curing the IAEA's annual General Conference.

"We are currently working with the agency to finalize all necessary subsidiary agreements for the SQP to be effectively rescinded by the end of December of this year."

According to Reuters, the move was commended by IAEA chief Rafael Grossi.

Prince Abdulaziz announced a year ago that his country had decided to scrap the SQP.