RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 7 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia added the Muslim Brotherhood, Hezbollah and two Syrian-based groups to its list of terrorist organizations Friday, officials said.
The listing was done by royal decree, Al Arabiya News reported. It applies to the Saudi branch of Hezbollah, a Shiite group in Lebanon, and to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and al-Nusra Front, groups fighting with the rebels in Syria.
King Abdullah's decree gave Saudis fighting with the listed groups in Syria 15 days to come home. Under a decree issued Feb. 3, Saudis fighting outside the country with groups considered terrorist can be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
Abdel Latif al-Sheikh, head of the Saudi religious police, described the Brotherhood, Hezbollah, ISIS and al-Nusra Front as groups "ruled from outside to serve political purposes."
"They are groups that fight moderate Muslims and are causing troubles around the world. This is what we consider against Islamic principles and has given a negative impression about Muslims in the West," Sheikh said.
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