Controversial Saudi preacher splits opinions during Jordan visit

Mohammad al-Arifi, a Saudi preacher known for his controversial views on anything from "jihad" - including against the regime in Syria - to his reported hostility to Shia Muslims, received official security protection during his visit this week to Jordan.

Arifi was allowed to hold a public lecture at a stadium in Irbid in northern Jordan, with thousands of people flocking to listen to his talk.

Arifi's profile, views, and the timing of his visit to the Hashemite Kingdom - host to millions of Syrian refugees and embroiled in the conflict in Syria and the international war on the Islamic State group in Iraq - have split opinions across social media and in the local and regional press.

Jordanians opposed to the visit - Arifi is banned from entering several Arab and European nations, including Kuwait and Britain - accuse the preacher of spreading extremist views, sectarianism, and violence.

But Arifi has a large number of followers, including in Jordan, many of whom rushed to defend the Saudi preacher - even accusing his detractors of being enemies of Islam, agents of the Syrian regime or Iran.

Arifi himself is a prolific social media personality, posting on Facebook and tweeting on a daily basis to thousands of digital disciples. Apart from preaching the Salafist interpretation of Islam, he is known to regularly weigh in on the social and political issues du jour.

Despite his support for jihad in Syria, Arifi is opposed to IS, which he sees as "too extreme", and is inclined to support other Islamist factions fighting against the regime there. To some analysts, this makes him useful to regional governments such as those of Jordan and Turkey, in their efforts against both the regime in Syria and IS.

Bassam al-Badareen is a journalist based in Amman. There are profound political implications behind the visit, says Badareen, facilitated by the Jordanian government amid tensions between Damascus and Amman.

Badareen said that Arifi's tour of northern areas, home to the bulk of Syrian refugees in the kingdom, is significant given Amman's alleged involvement in southern Syria.