Mohammed bin Nayef

Mohammed bin Nayef was arrested in March 2020 along with other senior royal family members. He was subsequently held incommunicado and, according to his lawyers and several sources, subjected to severe restrictions on access to family, doctors and legal advisers. Allegations of ill-treatment and torture were reported. Authorities referred to suspicions of conspiracy, treason and corruption, but no public adversarial trial establishing his guilt has been identified.

Attribution

Directly implicated

In 2020, Saudi and American sources indicated that authorities were preparing allegations against Mohammed bin Nayef that he had embezzled billions of riyals through a network of shell companies and private accounts used in secret counterterrorism programmes. A repayment demand of 15 billion dollars was reported by an associate.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Mohammed bin Nayef was removed from the line of succession in June 2017 in favour of Mohammed bin Salman. Reuters reported accounts that officials had invoked dependence on painkillers and exerted pressure to secure his withdrawal.

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Under Mohammed bin Nayef, Interior Minister from 2012 and previously responsible for counterterrorism, the ministry conducted a broad crackdown on peaceful activists and informal human rights organisations. Human Rights Watch particularly criticised the 2014 counterterrorism regulations for their very broad definition of terrorism, their use against freedom of expression and the extensive police powers granted to the ministry.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

In May 2017, while Mohammed bin Nayef headed the Saudi Interior Ministry and the succession rivalry with Mohammed bin Salman was intensifying, the ministry signed a one-year contract worth 5.4 million dollars with Sonoran Policy Group. The firm, linked to former members of the Trump campaign, was to provide government relations services and engagement with the US Congress and executive branch.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

Several months after his removal as Crown Prince, Saudi authorities froze the bank accounts of Mohammed bin Nayef and close family members during the broad anti-corruption campaign of November 2017. The measure renewed questions about the financial and political neutralisation of the former heir.

François Hollande awarded Mohammed bin Nayef the Legion of Honour during a visit to the Élysée in March 2016. The decoration, initially receiving little publicity, sparked fierce controversy in France because of Saudi Arabia's human rights record and numerous executions, particularly the 47 carried out on 2 January 2016. Actress Sophie Marceau cited the decoration as one reason for refusing the Legion of Honour herself.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated