Brother of Billionaire Saudi Prince Freed From Detention

By The Daily Beast

05 November 18

he brother of a billionaire Saudi prince has been released after 11 months in detention, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. Prince Khaled bin Talal is the brother of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a billionaire who was also detained—famously, at the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh—with dozens of other royals and government officials as part of what CNN labeled an “anti-corruption purge" last year. Khaled was reportedly arrested for criticizing both the purge and the nation’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. At the time, the Journal notes, the anti-corruption crackdown was viewed as a way for Salman to silence his opposition. But as the kingdom faces international condemnation for the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a senior royal told the Journal that the Saudi government is freeing members of the royal family to shore up support for their leadership. “The leadership wants to show it wants to change and is taking some serious steps,” the royal said. “The release of Khalid is quite symbolic because he was arrested for going against the crown prince.”