Saudi authorities launched an investigation into a preacher, referring him to public prosecution, for a hateful tweet he posted after the death of Kuwaiti actor, Abdulhussain Abdulredha, Arab News reported on Sunday.
The legendary star died on Friday evening in London.
As millions of his Arab fans shared social media tributes, the preacher, Sheikh Ali Al-Rabieei, tweeted out asking people not to pray for Abdulredha because he was an “Iranian Shiite.”
The tweet sparked outrage on social media in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and several other Gulf nations.
Soon after, Saudi authorities announced they were taking action against Al-Rabieei, who has since offered an apology and deleted the tweet.
The now-deleted tweet
"It isn't permissible for a Muslim to pray for Abdulhussain Abdulredha because he is an Iranian Shiite who died misguided. God forbade Muslims to wish mercy and forgiveness for polytheists.”
Al Rabieei's hate-filled remark sparked outrage on social media
After the sheikh posted the tweet on the social media platform, thousands reacted angrily, calling him out for stirring up sectarian division.
People called on Al-Rabieei to be punished
"Al-Rabieei must be severely punished because his aim is to create sectarian strife in our society."
"Thank God that mercy is in the hands of the creator and not in the hands of human beings"
Many hailed Saudi authorities for their decision to persecute Al-Rabieei
"I hope he is punished, deported, and barred from entering the country"
The tweet later prompted action on part of Saudi Authorities
After intense backlash from outraged social media users, Hani Al-Ghufaili, the official spokesman at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and Information, responded to the incident, saying:
“The Ministry of Culture and Information has referred Al-Rabieei to the Copyright Infractions Committee for violating the press and publications law.”
"Earlier, Public Prosecutor Sheikh Saud bin Abdullah Al-Mua’jab affirmed that any post that includes harmful content to society, regardless of its material, pretexts and means of publication (media publications, social media, lectures, speeches and books), was the direct responsibility of the public prosecution in accordance with legitimate and systemic requirements," Arab News wrote.
Al-Mua’jab also explained that action was also being taken against other tweeps who made similar offensive remarks.
Al-Rabieei has since apologized for his offensive tweet
Al-Rabieei, who some claim is a Yemeni expat, resides in the Kingdom and often addresses religious topics related to Sunnis and Shiites on his Twitter account.
Soon after the social media backlash, he issued an apology to the people of Kuwait saying: “I apologize to my fellow Kuwaiti brothers for the misunderstanding caused by my previous tweet and may God grant all devout Muslims mercy.”
According to Arab News, the sheikh also said that "he intends to sue journalists and individuals who accused him of engaging in hate speech, asking all those concerned to contact him, 'particularly lawyers and judges.'"