RIYADH – The Saudi Arabian authorities have closed the twitter account ofone of the Imams in the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

Sheikh Saud Al-Shuraim had reportedly posted comments about political andsocial issues in the Kingdom and criticised what he believes are violationsof Islamic teachings.

Al-Shuraim was born in Riyadh in 1964. He has held several senior academicpositions, including the Dean and Specialist Professor at Umm Al-QuraUniversity in Makkah. He is also a judge at the High Court in the holy city.

His fellow Imam at the Grand Mosque, which houses the Kaaba, is SheikhAbdul Rahman As-Sudais, who is loyal to the policies of the Saudi royalfamily.

While Al-Shuraim has been praised by Muslims within and beyond the Kingdomover his courageous stances, Al-Sudais has been criticised for his “blind”support for the ruling House of Saud, which is regarded by many asirreligious, according to AlKhaleej Online.