Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 2013-09-14

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs in Saudi Arabia has dismissed a number of masjid imams in six cities last month after they delivered bayaan (sermons) that touched on sensitive issues of a political nature.

Al-Hayat newspaper reports that others were suspended or banned from delivering sermons. The rulings affected 18 imams in total.

The ministry said it has noticed some imams focused on sensitive political topics related to the ongoing political incidents in a number of Arab countries.

Undersecretary at the ministry Tawfiq Al-Sudairy said after investigations some of these imams were dismissed because their sermons could have incited sedition among the congregation.

Three imams, two in Riyadh and one in the Northern Border region, were dismissed from service. The undersecretary said an imam in Jeddah was banned from delivering sermons and was currently under investigation while two others in the Eastern Province were suspended for two months. He said two other imams, one each in Tabuk and Qassim, were also dismissed.