The Saudi King’s reformist mindset

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.

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.

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.

The biographies published by local newspapers of the new members of the Grand Religious Commission showed them to be holders of post graduate degrees from Al Azhar University in Egypt; former members would not have obtained any degree outside the Kingdom or away from the Hanbali school of thought.

The Commission of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice that is often called in Arabic (Haya’a) was also part of the change. The new head of the commission Abdul Aziz Bin Humain replaced Ibraheem Al-Ghaith; a decision that raised the hopes of many Saudis of a change in the strategy of the religious commission. The Saudi media recently held an aggressive campaign against the Commission which was seen to be interfering in the personal lives of Saudis.

Media reaction

Jameel Al-Thiabi, the editor-in chief of the Gulf edition of newspaper Alhayat, described the recent changes as: “A beginning of a new stage where reforms will bypass the bureaucracy that everyone blamed as preventing changes.”

Badriya Al-Bisher, a Saudi columnist related Obama’s enthusiasm for change to the Saudi King’s approach to reform. She wrote in the Alhayat newspaper describing the new appointees: “New blood, youthful minds from various backgrounds who all believe that change must be carried out, that the world is changing rapidly and that no one will wait for us to change. All believe that as the institutions will remain, unlike them, they will try to achieve the best.”

There was a word of caution though. Dr Hamoud Talib, a columnist and a writer expressed to Elaph magazine his concern of the need for a longer time to achieve reforms. Talib said: “The Saudi King’s reformist vision will not be achieved easily. It is difficult to change or reform the different institutes which have lasted for a long time and the people adapted their thinking to the way it functioned.”

Overall, however, Saudi observers received the announcement enthusiastically and perceived it as a continuation of the King's reformist approach. The people are excited and anticipate more change.