Prominent Saudi sheikh causes stir by calling MbS 'Crown Prince of Muslims'

A prominent Saudi religious figure has caused controversy after referring to Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman as the "Crown Prince of Muslims".

Sheikh Saleh bin Awad al-Maghamsi, formerly imam and preacher at the Quba mosque in the holy city of Medina, praised the Saudi crown prince in a tweet on Tuesday.

"May God increase you in honour and empowerment, oh Crown Prince of Muslims," the preacher said in a quote tweet in response to footage of MbS leading the cleaning of the Kaaba, the most sacred site in Islam.

تقبل الله منكم، وزادكم الله رفعة وعزًّا وتمكينا يا وليّ عهد المسلمين. https://t.co/dBub1UTOVZ

— الشيخ صالح المغامسي (@SalehAlmoghamsy) August 16, 2022

Activists accused al-Maghamsi of "flattery", and said Saudi Arabia's poor human rights record under the prince's de facto rule is not a representation of Islam.

Maghamsi was reportedly replaced as imam and preacher of the Quba mosque after he called for the release of Saudi detainees in a March 2020 tweet.

He later backtracked on his call, saying he had meant that only those with "minor violations" should be released.

Saudi Arabia has detained dozens of dissidents and activists for criticising the kingdom's rulers and calling for basic rights.

Bin Salman was put in charge of the country’s day-to-day affairs in 2017 by his father, 86-year-old King Salman.