03-03-2025
Saudi dissidents welcome to return to Kingdom: Head of state security
Saudi dissidents who have been exploited by external entities to attack Saudi Arabia are welcome to return to the Kingdom, the Head of the Presidency of State Security Abdulaziz al-Howairini said.
Speaking on MBC's Hikayat Waad program, al-Howairini said that dissidents are welcome to return without facing any consequences if their opposition remained at the level of ideological influence and they were not implicated in criminal cases within the country.
Saudi Arabia will not expose or publicize their names, he said, adding that the Kingdom focuses on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
Dissidents wishing to return to Saudi Arabia can contact the designated number (990) to provide their identity and location for assistance, al-Howairini said. Alternatively, they can also delegate a family member to coordinate with the relevant authorities.
In the episode, which focused on the Kingdom's counterterrorism efforts, the head of state security also highlighted the role that Saudi society plays in combating extremism and terrorism. He revealed that approximately 20 percent of detainees in the country were taken into custody either at their families' request or through coordinated efforts with them.
