Yemen’s Houthis will provide asylum to Saudi princes

The Houthi armed group has offered Saudi princes political asylum in Yemen after Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman arrested 11 last Saturday, Al Jazeera reported.

Sources close to the Houthi leadership told the news site that Saudi princes or any national seeking refuge would be “welcomed” by Yemen.

“We are ready to offer sanctuary to any member of Al Saud family or any national that wants to flee oppression and persecution,” said the source.

Dozens of Saudi nationals were detained on Saturday in an alleged anti-corruption crackdown, including billionaire Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal, Saudi Arabia’s richest businessman and investor.

Read more: Is Saudi’s Bin Salman tacking corruption or making money?

“To our fellow Al Saud royals, to anyone in the ruling family, to any employee or person who feels targeted by the regime – we’re ready to welcome you with open arms to reside with us as our oppressed brothers,” Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi wrote on Twitter.

الاخوة أمراءال سعودمن العائلة المالكةوكل موظف أوشخصية تشعرباستهداف النظام مستعدون لاستقبال كل من يريد الاقامة لديناكاخ مظلوم عزيز ومكرم

— محمد علي الحوثي (@Moh_Alhouthi) November 5, 2017

A Saudi royal decree responsible for the crackdown said it was executed in a response to “exploitation by some of the weak souls who have put their own interests above the public interest, in order to, illicitly accrue money”.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia’s Attorney General said the individuals detained have been questioned and “a great deal of evidence” had been gathered.

Those detained have had their assets frozen until further investigation.