On Friday, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights activist, Tawakkol Karman, attacked Islamic clerical associations founded by royal or presidential decree.

In a post on her official Facebook page, Tawakkol Karman said that the Saudi Council of Senior Scholars has always acted as a tool to legitimize the actions of the despotic and authoritarian regime in Saudi Arabia and its violations against its people.

Moreover, she noted that the council’s religious fatwas are always issued by order of the ruler.

Mrs. Karman appointed out that the council members are appointed by a royal decree after they are prepared inside intelligence rooms, indicating that some of them are intelligence men who are assigned to play the role of clerics.

Karman asked: “Has anyone ever heard of a statement made by a member of the council, let alone by the council itself, to criticize the regime for any matter or issue?”

She stated that it is stupid and irresponsible to say that the council is independent from the regime, adding “You have no choice but to accept them as one package or refuse them as one package”.