Authorities in Saudi Arabia have reportedly returned the body of slain popular tribal activist Abdul-Rahim Al-Howeiti to his family, following vigorous opposition to his burial in the town of Al-Khuraybah, amid reports that 8 members of his tribe have been arrested for refusing give way for the controversial NEOM megacity project...

According to an official government statement, Al-Howeiti – a charismatic tribal activist known for his highly vocal, long-standing opposition to the forcible displacement of nearly 20,000 members of his centuries-old Howeitat tribe – engaged security forces in a firefight, before succumbing to gunshot wounds...

The move is akin to a rare instance where Saudi authorities have cowered in the face of mounting grassroots pressure.