The International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) criticized yesterday the reported arrest of Muslim preachers and scholars in Saudi Arabia. Those said to have been detained included Salman al-Auda, a prominent Muslim preacher and member of the IUMS's board of trustees.

On Monday, activists reported on social media that the Saudi authorities had detained more than 20 Muslim preachers and scholars for unspecified reasons.

In a statement issued late Monday, the Doha-based IUMS suggested the arrests were related to an ongoing diplomatic crisis pitting Qatar against a four-nation Arab bloc led by Saudi Arabia.