Saudi Arabia 'detains' more preachers

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http://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/imagecache/mbdxxlarge/mritems/Images/2015/4/8/d776fc8db4a3449c8459b17401eac486_18.jpgSaudi Arabia has detained more preachers and scholars, activists said, two days after the reported arrest of more than 20 individuals, including prominent Saudi intellectuals.

The reports come as Saudi state news agency SPA said authortities were uncovering "intelligence activities for the benefit of foreign parties" by an unamed group of people. It did not comment on the reported arrests.

On Sunday, online activists said up to 20 influential Saudi preachers and religious scholars had been arrested, including some of the kingdom's most influential preachers.

Activists dedicated to monitoring and documenting what they describe as "prisoners of conscience" reported on social media on Tuesday that at least eight prominent figures, including clerics, academics, television anchors and a poet, had been "confirmed" detained since Monday.

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