News Desk
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has released Iranian cleric Gholamreza Ghasemian, who was detained after posting criticism of the Saudi government. According to Iranian media reports, Ghasemian has now returned safely to Iran.
The cleric was arrested while performing the Hajj pilgrimage, a sensitive religious event drawing millions from around the world. His detention sparked strong condemnation from Iranian judiciary officials, who described the arrest as unjust and illegal, calling for his immediate release.
Ghasemian’s arrest had heightened tensions between the two countries, but his release is being viewed as a positive step toward easing diplomatic strains amid the sensitive period of pilgrimage, a time when both nations typically seek to avoid confrontation and maintain a fragile détente.
