Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

The Saudi King’s reformist mindset

By Nidaa Abu-Ali - posted Monday, 9 March 2009


Valentine’s Day is not a celebration that is popularly practiced in Saudi but this year the day had a particular significance and will be remembered for a long time to come. King Abdullah announced a cabinet reshuffle on February 14 that was unprecedented in its departure from the traditional norm. In keeping with the spirit of the day, it was perceived as a gift from the King to the Saudi public.

In a move that suggested a harbinger of further reforms, Saudi King Abdullah announced the appointment, to much media attention and public applause, of Madam Norah Al-Fayez as a Deputy Minister for Women’s Education - the highest official appointment a Saudi women has ever been given. This has generated optimism for a greater empowerment of women to effectively lead and contribute to Saudi society.

King Abdullah also made far reaching changes in the justice and religious sectors in addition to appointing new Ministers of Information, and Health. The local media has reported that the announcement was received with enthusiastic support from the Saudi public.

Advertisement

Two points may be made here. This is the first time King Abdullah has reshuffled the cabinet he inherited on ascending the throne in 2005. More importantly, it is pertinent to note that reforms or departure from the norm hitherto only happened at a gradual pace in Saudi on the premise that Saudi citizens needed time to absorb the changes with minimal shock.

Not surprisingly, however, the Saudi King’s reformist mindset, the scrutiny and bad press that the Kingdom had been subjected to in recent times from the international media and the simmering internal problems of radicalisation, all came together to act as drivers to hasten the process of reform.

King Abdullah is increasingly seen as a reformist king who is quietly leading his people into incremental changes at a pace more rapid than what they had hitherto been used to. Saudis remember that King Abdullah was the first Saudi king ever to meet with Pope Benedict XVl.

Some newspapers have noted that the King’s approach to reform is also different in that he attempts to change the policies first and then assign fresh faces to manage the new approach.

Daood Al-Shiryan, a prominent columnist pointed out the difference in King Abdullah’s strategy in Elaph magazine: “King Abdullah first changed the system of the different institutions then appointed new people for the job. This approach is different than the traditional one where the people are appointed first then the system is changed.”

Saudi intellectuals, who generally do not publicly engage in the political arena, have come forward to express their enthusiasm and the hope they felt because of the changes. The occasion was not only an opportunity for them to express their gratitude to the King but also an opening for them to criticise the bureaucratic procedures and policies that were a result of the previously strict and conservative ideologies that inflicted the Saudi society.

Advertisement

The changes in the judicial system that included the appointment of a new Minister of Justice were long awaited. Saudi citizens have on occasions expressed their disapproval of the system with its stifling bureaucracy and its inability to adapt to modern times. The local newspapers have also carried disapproving views.

A very significant move in the Saudi contest was the bold opening up of the Grand Religious Commission, which until now comprised the strict Hanbali religious scholars. The King broadened it to include Sheikhs from all the four religious schools of thought (Hanbali, Shafie, Maliki and Hanafi). Many saw the decision as a clear attempt to introduce other schools of thoughts in the society to promote tolerance of other beliefs.

In this context, the Saudi public expressed their relief that the head of the Grand Religious Commission Saleh Al-Luhaidan was replaced by Saleh Bin Hameed. Al-Luhaidan, it will be recalled, was highly criticised for issuing fatwas and statements that were often rigid and which some detractors even considered illogical. His latest fatwa in September 2008, for example, was condemning the owners of satellite TV owners to death.

  1. Pages:
  2. Page 1
  3. 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

1 post so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Nidaa Abu-Ali is a Research Assistant in the Middle East Institute at the National University of Singapore.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Nidaa Abu-Ali

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 1 comment
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy