Chess banned in Saudi Arabia (?!)

According to Nigel Short and some people in the Saudi Chess Association, apparently there's been a fatwa against it, presumably because it counts as gambling?! (Source: twitter.com/nigelshortchess/status/689893064924622848)

Can anyone in Saudi Arabia comment on if this is true, and if/how it is being communicated to Saudi citizens? Is lichess traffic from Saudi Arabia increasing or decreasing?

Er, the lichess forums aren't tokenizing URLs properly, the URL should be twitter.com/nigelshortchess/status/689893064924622848 without the closing paren.

chess banned!!!

wow, these guys are completely and utterly nuts. Scary.

www.fide.com/fide/directory.html?task=country&fid=214
sure, all that people in the directory photos live in clandestinity, they dont use cellphones or a computer to don´t be founded, they are already in the top 10 most wanted of arabia.

http://www.saudichess.com/

that tournaments are celebrated in ilegal Underground chess bunkers, look that fear faces, is really hard to concentrate thinking that the arabian elite police force will enter screaming "all against wall, all to the wall!!, put the chessboard on the ground, where can see it"
-nooo im inocent, i was only playing checkers with chess pieces
-shut up fucking chessplayer and enter to the truck.

Wow chess is not gambling. It is about memory and skill not luck! And there is not always a prize for winning a chess game! I cannot believe this!!!!!

It might just be a rumour but when I read Nigel Short's comment on Twitter it might be true Hmmm...

Even a coin toss can be played as a gamble.
Ban the coins Arabia! lol :)

Funny comment Usolando :)

Before we start mocking other cultures, lets pause and consider the recent colonial history of the region, the impact of having the largest oil reserves and the internal turmoil and pressures it can create, the political transition that's currently taking place, and the recent history of arab spring protests which worry the ruling elites.