Shiite Muslims accused of spying for Iran

Saudi Arabia has put 32 people on trial, including 30 members of its own Shiite Muslim minority, accused of spying for Iran, several local newspapers and television reported on Monday.

The 32, including an Iranian and an Afghan, were detained in 2013 sparking expressions of concern among Saudi Shiites who said that several were well known figures in their community and not involved in politics.

The trial is the first in recent memory for Saudis accused of spying and may stoke tensions between local Shiite and Sunni Muslims and with Iran, which strongly denied the accusations at the time.