Lebanese Composer Samir Sfeir Arrested In Saudi Arabia

Lebanese composer, Samir Sfeir, who is a known supporter of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), was recently arrested in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi authorities arrested Sfeir after he arrived in the Kingdom a few days ago at the invitation of a Riyadh official.

According to Al-Akhbar, Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry contacted the Saudi embassy about the arrest, after which Sfeir’s wife was allowed to see him.

Until now, Saudi authorities are declining to give reasons for the arrest.

A prominent FPM member, Charbel Khalil, claimed that Saudi “kidnapped” Sfeir solely because he’s “Aounist“.

“The Lebanese artist, Samir Sfeir, was kidnapped in the Kingdom of Bin Salman only because he is Aouni (there is no truth to the rest of the rumors),” he wrote in a Tweet.

Earlier this year, Sfeir sparked outrage in Saudi Arabia for taking the vaccine against the coronavirus before Saudi nationals, who called on authorities to expel him.

During that time the hashtag طرد_سمير_صفير_مطلب# (Expelling Samir Sfeir is a demand), started trended as people in Saudi Arabia slammed Sfeir, who is known to have publicly criticized and mocked the country more than once.

Last week, Saudi Arabia made a massive drug bust of millions of Captagon pills hidden in crates of pomegranates from Lebanon prompting Saudi officials to ban the import of fruits and vegetables from Lebanon.