Saudi Minister Says Detainees Were 'Pushing an Extremist Agenda'

A Saudi crackdown on prominent citizens who had been critical of the government targeted people who "were pushing an extremist agenda" and took funding from foreign countries, according to Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir.

Saudi Arabia this month arrested a group of clerics, academics and businessmen -- many who’d criticized the government or its policies in the past -- amid growing speculation that King Salman will abdicate in favor of his powerful son. Some of those detained had ties to the brand of political Islam that Saudi rulers have long opposed.