Editing Politics of Saudi Arabia (section)

===Corruption===
Corruption is widespread in Saudi Arabia, most prevalent in the form of [[nepotism]], the use of middlemen, '[[wasta]]', to do business, as well as patronage systems.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saudi Arabia Corruption Profile|url=http://www.business-anti-corruption.com/country-profiles/middle-east-north-africa/saudi-arabia/show-all.aspx|website=Business Anti-Corruption Profile|access-date=2 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160906231821/http://www.business-anti-corruption.com/country-profiles/middle-east-north-africa/saudi-arabia/show-all.aspx|archive-date=6 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The Saudi government and the royal family have often, and over many years, been accused of corruption.<ref>{{cite book|title=Saudi Royal Family|last=Reed|first=Jennifer Bond|author2=Brenda, Lange|year=2006|isbn=978-0791092187|page=[https://archive.org/details/saudiroyalfamily00reed_0/page/n17 14]|publisher=Chelsea House |url=https://archive.org/details/saudiroyalfamily00reed_0|url-access=limited}};{{cite book|title=Saudi Arabia Enters the 21st Century|last=Cordesman|first=Anthony H.|year=2003|isbn=978-0275980917|pages=[https://archive.org/details/saudiarabiaenter0000cord/page/47 47,142]|url=https://archive.org/details/saudiarabiaenter0000cord/page/47}};{{cite book|title=Middle Eastern leaders and Islam: A precarious equilibrium|last=Alianak |first=Sonia|year=2007|isbn=978-0820469249|page=67|publisher=Peter Lang }};{{cite book|title=The history of Saudi Arabia|last=Bowen |first=Wayne H.|year=2007|isbn=978-0313340123|pages=15, 108|publisher=Greenwood Press }};{{cite news|title=The corrupt, feudal world of the House of Saud|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-the-corrupt-feudal-world-of-the-house-of-saud-538468.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=14 May 2003|access-date=21 June 2011|location=London|archive-date=10 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010181738/http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-the-corrupt-feudal-world-of-the-house-of-saud-538468.html|url-status=live}}; from the 1990s:{{cite book|title=Saudi Arabia: Government, society, and the Gulf crisis|last=Abir|first=Mordechai|year=1993|isbn=978-0415093255|page=73|publisher=Routledge }}; {{cite book|title=Security issues in the post-cold war world|last=Davis|first=M. Jane|year=1996|isbn=978-1858983349 |page=81|publisher=Edward Elgar }}; from the 1980s:{{cite book|title=Saudi Arabia and its royal family|last=Holden|first=William|year=1982|isbn=0818403268|pages=[https://archive.org/details/saudiarabiaitsro00powe/page/154 154–156]|publisher=L. Stuart |url=https://archive.org/details/saudiarabiaitsro00powe/page/154}};{{cite book|title=The Middle East reader|last=Curtis|first=Michael|year=1986|isbn=978-0887381010|page=235|publisher=Transaction Books }}</ref> In a country that is said to "belong" to the royal family and is [[Etymology of Saudi Arabia|named after it]],<ref name= Kamrava>{{cite book|title=The Modern Middle East: A Political History Since the First World War|last=Kamrava|first=Mehran|year=2011|isbn=978-0520267749|page=67|publisher=University of California Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CkLHZCzMEJkC&q=%22saudi+Arabia%22+name+reflects&pg=PA67|access-date=6 June 2011|archive-date=17 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117132433/https://books.google.com/books?id=CkLHZCzMEJkC&q=%22saudi+Arabia%22+name+reflects&pg=PA67|url-status=live}}</ref> the lines between state assets and the personal wealth of senior princes are blurred.<ref name="FT Saud"/> The corruption has been described as systemic<ref>{{cite book|title=September 11 and the U.S. war: beyond the curtain of smoke|last=Burbach|first=Roger|author2=Clarke, Ben|year=2002|isbn=978-0872864047|page=32|publisher=City Lights Publishers }}</ref> and endemic,<ref>{{cite book|title= Freedom in the Middle East and North Africa: A Freedom in the World Special Edition|last= Freedom House|year=2005|isbn=978-0742537750|page=63|publisher= Rowman & Littlefield}}</ref> and its existence was acknowledged<ref>{{cite news|title=A Nation Challenged: The Plots; Saudi Arabia Also a Target of Attacks, U.S. Officials Say|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/09/world/nation-challenged-plots-saudi-arabia-also-target-attacks-us-officials-say.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=9 October 2001|access-date=21 June 2011|first1=Lowell|last1=Bergman|archive-date=14 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614195125/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/09/world/nation-challenged-plots-saudi-arabia-also-target-attacks-us-officials-say.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and defended<ref>{{cite book|title=The King's Messenger. Prince Bandar bin Sultan and America's Tangled Relationship with Saudi Arabia|last=Ottaway|first=David|year=2008|isbn=978-0802716903|page=[https://archive.org/details/kingsmessengerpr00otta_0/page/162 162]|url=https://archive.org/details/kingsmessengerpr00otta_0/page/162}}</ref> by [[Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud|Prince Bandar bin Sultan]] (a senior member of the royal family)<ref>{{cite news|title=Saudi bribe claims delay £20bn fighter deal|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article1899614.ece|newspaper=The Times|date=7 June 2007|access-date=21 June 2011|location=London|archive-date=17 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117132440/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref> in an interview in 2001.<ref name= PBS>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/terrorism/interviews/bandar.html|title=Interview: Bandar bin Sultan|year=2001|publisher=PBS|access-date=20 June 2011|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331223114/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/terrorism/interviews/bandar.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Although corruption allegations have often been limited to broad undocumented accusations,<ref>{{cite book|title=National Security in Saudi Arabia: Threats, Responses, and Challenges|last=Cordesman|first=Anthony H.|author2=Corobaid|author3=Nawaf|year=2005|isbn=978-0275988111|page=[https://archive.org/details/nationalsecurity00cord/page/284 284]|url=https://archive.org/details/nationalsecurity00cord/page/284}}</ref> specific allegations were made in 2007, when it was claimed that the British defence contractor [[BAE Systems]] had paid Prince Bandar US$2 billion in bribes relating to the [[Al-Yamamah arms deal]].<ref>{{cite news|title=BAE accused of secretly paying £1bn to Saudi prince|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jun/07/bae1|newspaper=The Guardian|date=7 June 2007|access-date=21 June 2011|location=London|first1=David|last1=Leigh|first2=Rob|last2=Evans|archive-date=27 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727005051/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jun/07/bae1|url-status=live}}; {{cite news|title=BAE Systems sued over alleged Saudi bribes|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article2498504.ece|newspaper=The Times|date=20 September 2007|access-date=21 June 2011|location=London|archive-date=7 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807192427/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article2498504.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref> Prince Bandar denied the allegations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Prince Bandar denies BAE bribery claims|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/engineering/article1914426.ece|newspaper=The Times|date=11 June 2007|access-date=9 July 2011|location=London|archive-date=7 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807192409/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/engineering/article1914426.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref> Investigations by both US and UK authorities resulted, in 2010, in [[plea bargain]] agreements with the company, by which it paid $447 million in fines but did not admit to bribery.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8501916.stm|title=Lord Goldsmith defends BAE Systems plea deal|date=6 February 2010|publisher=BBC|access-date=21 June 2011|archive-date=18 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718064140/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8501916.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Transparency International]] in its annual [[Corruption Perceptions Index]] for 2010 gave Saudi Arabia a score of 4.4 (on a scale from 0 to 10 where 0 is "highly corrupt" and 10 is "very clean").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/results|title=Corruption Perceptions Index 2010|publisher=Transparency International|date=15 December 2010|access-date=28 April 2011|archive-date=25 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425163935/http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/results|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During the [[2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge|2017 Saudi Arabian anti-corruption arrests]] on 5 November, 11 princes and dozens of former ministers were detained in a new anti-corruption probe in Saudi Arabia. Among those detained include prominent billionaire investor Prince [[Al-Waleed bin Talal]], National Guard Minister Miteb bin Abdullah and Economy and Planning Minister Adel Fakeih. The official line is that the purge was in response to corrupt practices by the accused and that the anti-corruption committee has the right to issue arrest warrants, impose travel restrictions, and freeze bank accounts. It is also empowered to investigate financials and freeze assets until cases are decided on. The Royal proclamation further said, "due to the propensity of some people for abuse, putting their interest above public interest, and stealing public funds."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theindependent.in/Saudi-Arabia-arrests-princes-crown-prince-Mohammed-bin-Salman-consolidates-powers/|title=Saudi Arabia arrests Princes, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman consolidates powers|date=5 November 2017 |publisher=theindependent.in|access-date=1 April 2020|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308011648/https://theindependent.in/Saudi-Arabia-arrests-princes-crown-prince-Mohammed-bin-Salman-consolidates-powers/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, Saudi Arabian journalist [[Jamal Khashoggi]] was [[Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi|kidnapped and killed]] after he criticized the Saudi government.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/11/business/media/jamal-khashoggi-person-of-the-year-time.html | title=Time Names Person of the Year for 2018: Jamal Khashoggi and Other Journalists | newspaper=The New York Times | date=11 December 2018 | last1=Haag | first1=Matthew | last2=Grynbaum | first2=Michael M. | access-date=10 July 2022 | archive-date=11 December 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211214442/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/11/business/media/jamal-khashoggi-person-of-the-year-time.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 6 March 2020, the [[Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia|Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia,]] [[Mohammed bin Salman]] detained three senior royal members, including [[King Salman]]'s brother, [[Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud|Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz]], the former crown prince, [[Muhammad bin Nayef|Muhammed bin Nayef]], and his younger brother, to eliminate the risk of potential successors to the throne.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/06/world/MiddleEast/Saudi-royal-arrest.html|title=Saudi Prince Details Senior Members of Royal Family|access-date=6 March 2020|website=The New York Times|archive-date=6 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306220027/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/06/world/middleeast/saudi-royal-arrest.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 15 March 2020, Saudi Arabia conducted another mass-detention campaign and arrested 298 government employees out of the 674 people investigated on suspicion of corruption. The detainees included current and retired military officers, security officers under the [[Ministry of Interior (Saudi Arabia)|Interior Ministry]], health officials, and judges. The mass detention raised human rights concerns, where the [[Human Rights Watch]] called for the revelation of the legal and evidentiary basis for each person's detention.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/17/saudi-arabia-new-mass-corruption-arrests|title=Saudi Arabia: New Mass Corruption Arrests|access-date=17 March 2020|website=Human Rights Watch|date=17 March 2020|archive-date=28 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328032625/https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/17/saudi-arabia-new-mass-corruption-arrests|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 6 August 2020, former top Saudi Intelligence official [[Saad bin Khalid Al Jabry|Saad AlJabri]], who self-exiled in [[Canada]], filed a lawsuit against [[Saudi Arabia]]'s Crown Prince, [[Mohammed bin Salman]], and other high-ranking officials. The lawsuit was filed at the [[Washington, D.C.]] court under the [[Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991|Torture Victim Protection Act]], accusing the crown prince of sending a hit squad, dubbed "[[Tiger Squad]]", in October 2018 for his [[extrajudicial killing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/09/saudi-ex-spy-suing-crown-prince-faces-fresh-death-threat-in-canada-report|title=Saudi ex-spy suing crown prince faces fresh death threat in Canada – report|access-date=9 August 2020|website=The Guardian|date=9 August 2020|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809020632/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/09/saudi-ex-spy-suing-crown-prince-faces-fresh-death-threat-in-canada-report|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2021, more than 240 people were arrested in Saudi Arabia for corruption. Employees from the ministries of interior, health, municipal and rural affairs and housing, education, and human resources and social development, customs and the postal story were arrested.<ref>{{Cite web|editor-last=Salama|editor-first=Samir|title=Saudi Arabia arrests 241 in new corruption crackdown|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-arrests-241-in-new-corruption-crackdown-1.77838687|access-date=2021-03-15|website=Gulf News|date=15 March 2021 |language=en|archive-date=15 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315205946/https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-arrests-241-in-new-corruption-crackdown-1.77838687|url-status=live}}</ref>