Davoud Al-Sharian, speaking on a live program in MBC channel, challenged the controversial Saudi fatwas, saying the preachers send young people to die in Syria.

The criticism came a Saudi Arabia has been supporting foreign-backed militants to change the balance of power on the ground since the beginning of unrest in Syria.

The Saudi government openly supports terrorist groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and al-Nusra Front, in Syria. 

In October last year, Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah Al ash-Sheikh called on young Saudis not to join militant groups in Syria.

The Saudi mufti warned against the inflow of Saudi men into Syria, saying, "This is all wrong, it's not obligatory."

"These are feuding factions and one should not go there. I do not advise one to go there," the mufti said.

Ash-Sheikh also criticized preachers who push Saudi young men into the war in Syria.

"Muslim should be fearful of God and not deceive young Muslims and exploit their weakness and lack of insight and push them to an abyss," he said.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.

BA/BA