Saudi Scholars Association calls for Crown Prince Salman to be dethroned

The Saudi Scholars Association released a statement on Thursday calling for the removal of Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud from his position as the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.

In a statement shared on their official Twitter account, the Saudi Scholars Association dubbed the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi as “cruel.”

Turkey says Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who was critical of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed by Saudi agents in Riyadh's diplomatic mission in Istanbul on Oct. 2 and his body dismembered. Saudi Arabia denies the allegation.

“Our country is now dragged into a dangerous dead-end due to the current crises. Prince Salman, who is responsible for these incidents, has arrested many important figures, and sentenced them to prison,” the statement said.

There has been a wave of arrests of academics, writers, and religious figures in the Kingdom since September 2017.

The statement went on to say that Salman had wasted public property and that corruption had increased as a result of his poor administration.

The Saudi Scholars Association stated that a new crown prince should be appointed, and that those arrested should be freed immediately.