Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia has continued its crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.

The state-controlled media said Saudi security forces arrested academics linked to the banned Brotherhood. So far, nine university professors have been detained and suspended from their posts.

“We offered them our children, and they took them hostage,” Saudi Education Minister Khaled Al Faisal, referring to the Brotherhood, said.

On May 26, the Saudi daily Okaz said the detainees consisted of two Saudis and seven foreign Arabs, charged with being involved with “foreign organizations.” Okaz said evidence against the professors, who face up to 15 years in jail, included e-mails and voice mail.

“They are still under investigation,” Okaz said. “Preliminary investigations have shown that all the professors have exchanged voice messages and e-mails with foreign organizations.”

In March 2014, Saudi Arabia designated the Brotherhood a terrorist group. The United Arab Emirates has also cracked down on the Brotherhood, arresting more than 100 suspected members over the last 18 months.

For years, Riyad harbored the Brotherhood, particularly fugitives from
Egypt. But in 2013 Saudi Arabia expressed concern over Brotherhood efforts
to destabilize the Gulf, particularly through the movement’s presence in
schools and mosques.

“The society left the stage for them, including schools,” Al Faisal
said.

Saudi Arabia has blamed Qatar for harboring the Brotherhood as well as
the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah. But Riyad denied a report in the Al Arab
newspaper that a three-member cell linked to Qatar and Turkey was captured.

“There is no basis whatsoever for the report that appeared in the
publication,” Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al Turki
said.

  Khaled Al Faisal, Maj. Gen. Mansour Al Turki, Saudis arrest professors linked to Brotherhood: ‘We offered them our children…’