DHAKA: Saudi Arabia suspended 18 Friday preachers last month, charging that their sermons referred to complex political issues related to events unfolding in Arab countries.

All the preachers were investigated for failing to follow the religious purpose of the Friday sermons, Tawfeeq Al Sudairi, the Islamic affairs ministry undersecretary, reportedly told the London-based Al Hayat daily, according to gulfnews.com.

Preachers in Saudi Arabia have been requested not to refer in their weekly public speeches to the dramatic events in Syria and Egypt amid arguments by the authorities that there were concerns about possible sedition.

Saudi Arabia, like most Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries supported the political change in Egypt on July 30 that ended the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood, a movement with several followers in the Gulf countries.

BDST: 2006 HRS, SEPT 11, 2013
RoR/RIS