Religious Scholars (Historically called Olama' Alsalaten) in that region report directly to their kings and dictators, who are installed by and directly report to the US government, which we know is the beneficiary of interest/Riba/Fractional R. fiasco. 

They chose silence, because they think they could afford it. After all they're not shooting for the stars. Their noblest of goals is to keep their thrones. 

 However, now that the region is quickly slipping into the fire,  silence becomes less viable an option. Then, if they continue to be silent, that's even better. They and their kings become weak and and irrelevant, leaving the grounds for smarter hungrier and  younger Arab plebs to take the wheel. 

Side note: This is not me being hyperbolic. Arab kings are nothing but local managers for the US establishment. Thinking of them as actual king with interests and sovereignty is an huge mistake, for all your calculus and conclusions will fail.