Saudi Arabia to put 32 on trial for spying for Iran

An Iranian and an Afghan are also accused, the reports said.

Prince Turki al-Faisal’s comments Sunday in the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi come as the kingdom hosts military exercises with 20 member states of a recently announced Islamic counterterrorism alliance.

“The world community has the capability, economic, political, military and otherwise, to put a stop to the killing”, he said.

Saudi Arabia has blamed sporadic unrest among Shi’ites in Qatif on Iran, but has never publicly presented evidence of a direct link between those who took part in protests from 2011-2013 and Tehran, which denies any involvement.

Muslim countries have a responsibility to play a primary role in combating terrorism, a prominent Saudi Arabian prince has said.

The prince, who does not hold an official position in the government, is an influential and outspoken member of the Saudi royal family.

Notably missing from the alliance of Muslim-majority countries – which includes Pakistan, Sudan, Jordan and neighbouring Gulf states – is Iran.

The mass arrest comes as Saudi Arabia, a Sunni monarchy, and Iran, led by Shi’ite clerics, deepen their regional rivalry, including backing opposition sides in the Syrian and Yemeni conflicts.

Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition of Muslim countries, backed by the United States, Britain and France, in a war in neighboring Yemen and says it will contribute troops if Washington leads land operations against Islamic State in Syria.

He said the vote is likely to make the relationship “even worse” because some liberal and reformist candidates were barred from running by the country’s Guardian Council, which vets candidates.