Editing Mohammed bin Salman (section)

==Controversies and villainy==
He was appointed Minister of Defense in 2015, and subsequently launched the invasion of Yemen which lead to the disarray and humanitarian disaster in the country.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/04/mohammed-bin-salman-should-be-prosecuted-over-the-yemen-conflict Mohammed bin Salman should be prosecuted over the Yemen conflict], ''The Guardian''</ref> He is also considered as among the culprits of Saudi involvement on proxy wars against Iran across the Middle East including Syria where they support jihadist rebels. This was followed by failed attempt to restore Saudi and OPEC monopoly in global oil markets, bloating the national spending to $100 billion a year to no avail.

Since 2016, he began announcing several massive economic projects under the catchphrase Vision 2030 in late attempts to diversify the oil-dependent economy, foster privatization, and attract investors worldwide. After being appointed Crown Prince in July 2017, the country was involved in several diplomatic crises with Qatar and Lebanon. Later on, the country initiated much awaited domestic reforms on social and religious affairs, including the removal of the ban on female drivers. Later that year he carried out a massive purge against the so-called old guards of the [[House of Saud|royal family]], and government and business establishment, which took a form of the anti-corruption campaign and lead to even bigger consolidation of power and seizure of the massive amount of assets. The crackdown was criticized as being a ploy by bin Salman to dispose of those opposing his takeover.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-corruption-mbs-crackdown-ends-confessions-billions-mohammad-bin-salman-a8756756.html%3famp Saudi Arabia ends $100bn 'corruption drive' dismissed by critics as power play], ''The Independent''</ref>

His authoritarian thrust continues in 2018, with some but not exhaustively include the arrest of seven feminist activists,<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/19/saudi-arabia-womens-rights-activists-arrested-before-lifting-of-driving-ban Saudi Arabia: women’s rights activists arrested before lifting of driving ban], ''The Guardian''</ref> possible death penalty for a prominent Sunni cleric,<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/09/12/saudi-arabia-prominent-cleric-may-face-death-penalty Saudi Arabia: Prominent Cleric May Face Death Penalty], Human Rights Watch</ref> criminalization of online satire with a maximum five years sentence,<ref>[https://www.france24.com/en/20180904-saudi-arabia-declares-online-satire-punishable-offence Saudi Arabia declares online satire punishable offence], ''France 24''</ref> and ordering the [[murder]] of Jamal Khashoggi.<ref>[https://www.middleeasteye.net/tiger-squad-saudi-hitmen-khashoggi-mbs REVEALED: The Saudi death squad MBS uses to silence dissent], ''Middle East Eye''</ref>

In February 2019, Mohammed bin Salman defended China's [[Uyghur Genocide|Xinjiang re-education camps for Muslims]], saying "China has the right to carry out anti-[[terrorism]] and de-extremisation work for its national security."<ref>[https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-crown-prince-appears-defend-chinas-use-internment-camps-muslims Saudi crown prince appears to defend China's use of internment camps for Muslims], ''Middle East Eye''</ref> Salman's comments received severe criticism worldwide. China has imprisoned up to 2 million Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in China's north-western province of Xinjiang in concentration camps, where they are allegedly subjected to abuse and torture.<ref>[https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/china-xinjiang-uyghurs-muslims-repression-genocide-human-rights China’s Repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang], ''Council on Foreign Relations''</ref> Miqdaad Versi, spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain, called Prince Mohammed's remarks "disgusting" and a defence of "the use of [[Concentration Camp|concentration camps]] against Uyghur Muslims."<ref>[https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2019/2/23/saudi-crown-prince-defends-chinas-right-to-fight-terrorism Saudi crown prince defends China’s right to fight ‘terrorism’], ''Al Jazeera''</ref>

MBS has shown support for [[Militant Islam]]ist organizations including [[Al-Qaeda]].<ref>[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/report-saudi-uae-coalition-cut-deals-al-qaeda-yemen-180806074659521.html Report: Saudi-UAE coalition 'cut deals' with al-Qaeda in Yemen], ''Al Jazeera''</ref> He is also Saudi Arabia's leader in the proxy conflict against Iran,<ref>[https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/israel-iran-saudi-arabia-battle-for-supremacy-in-the-middle-east/ Iran and Saudi Arabia Battle for Supremacy in the Middle East], ''World Politics Review''</ref> and is extremely vocal about his hatred for Iranian Supreme Leader [[Ali Khamenei]] as well as Syrian dictator [[Bashar al-Assad]], urging him to cut ties with Iran.