Gentleman Saudi Arabian Mohammed bin Nayef he continued to be in the spotlight after abruptly abdicating as crown prince in 2017.
King Salman’s heir to the throne has never been known for certain after he was stripped of his title of heir to the royal throne in June 2017.
Prince Nayef assumed the title of Saudi crown prince in 2015. However, in June 2017, King Salman removed Nayef, his nephew, as crown prince and replaced him with his son, Mohammed bin Salman (MbS).
Since being removed as Saudi crown prince in June 2017, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef has never been seen in public again.
In his report titled “The Godfather, Saudi Style: Inside the Coup That Brought MBS to Power,” reporters The Guardian Anuj Cophra recounts the chronology of the coup carried out by MbS up to the definitive conquest of the title of second strongest in Saudi Arabia after King.
After successfully convincing Prince Mohammed bin Nayef to renounce his title as crown prince, MbS is also said to have placed his cousin under house arrest.
According to sources a The New York TimesPrince Mohammed bin Nayef under house arrest until March 2020.
In the first days of his detention, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef was kept in solitary confinement, deprived of sleep until he was hung upside down by his ankles, according to two people briefed on his situation who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Prince Mohammed bin Nayef is said to have permanently damaged his ankle as a result of the treatment he received while in custody and is said to be unable to walk without a cane.
In August 2020, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef’s lawyers expressed concern about his client’s health condition. He accused Saudi authorities of not allowing doctors or family to visit him since he was detained.
Meanwhile, in the fall of 2021, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef was reportedly relocated to a villa in the compound surrounding the Al-Yamamah royal palace in Riyadh.
Prince Mohammed bin Nayef is in solitary confinement with no television or other electronic devices and receives only limited visits from his family, sources say.
To date, the Saudi government has also not filed formal charges against Mohammed bin Nayef or explained why he was arrested.
Most Saudi experts assume the detentions occurred because MbS was concerned that Mohammed bin Nayef could hinder his bid to become the next Saudi king.
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