Saudi prince calls for crucifixion of dissidents in poem amid crackdown

A Saudi prince has called for the crucifixion of dissidents in a patriotic poem that was published in the kingdom's mainstream media.

Abdel Aziz bin Saud bin Mohammed Al Saud, known as "the House of Saud's poet", penned the poem amid an ongoing crackdown on dissenters in the conservative kingdom.

The daily Sabq published the piece of poetry on Wednesday, explaining that its message was that people "plotting to destroy the state have violated the religion of their ancestors and that security services have expanded their war against them".

"The homeland is precious, and no one living in it is unworthy, except the enemies of its religion and creed," the poem reads.

"Those who deviate from our path and the community of believers, crucify them," it adds.

Last week, Saudi authorities detained around two dozen people, including influential clerics, in what activists have said is a coordinated crackdown.

Analysts say many of those detained are opposed to Prince Mohammed's aggressive foreign policy that includes the boycott of Gulf neighbour Qatar as well as some of his controversial reforms, including privatising state assets and cutting subsidies.

Leading Saudi academic Madawi al-Rasheed told The New Arab this week that the arrests were linked to the Saudi-led blockade of Doha.

"The detainees' identities and their ideological and political leanings indicate that the authorities want to send a message to Qatar after they have failed to make Doha kneel," Rasheed, a visiting professor at the Middle East Centre, London School of Economics, said.

Saudi officials have instead suggested a foreign plot to overthrow the government, without disclosing details.

This has not been the first time Riyadh has resorted to verse to further its political agenda.

Earlier this month, a Saudi record label attempted to rile up support for the Riyadh-led boycott of neighbouring Qatar by releasing a "diss track" against Doha.