Abdullah speeds up pace of Saudi reform drive

Riyadh: Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz's removal of two hardline clerics, amid a broader cabinet reshuffle, signals a drive to speed up the sometimes glacial pace of reform in Saudi Arabia and clip the wings of a powerful religious establishment.

In a striking break with Saudi tradition, a woman became deputy education minister in the changes announced on Saturday - the first big shakeup since the king took over in 2005.

Revisions to the 21-man Council of Religious Scholars brought in representatives from three more moderate Sunni schools.

"The objective is very clear: to reduce the influence of the religious establishment over the legal and educational systems," said Mustafa Alani, at the Dubai-based Gulf Research Centre.

"It is to implement a reform vision that couldn't be implemented with the old guard, especially in the religious institutions," he added. "We are witnessing a mini-revolution."

King Abdullah's earlier innovations include setting up an allegiance council to decide the royal succession and launching an inter-faith dialogue with Christian and Jewish leaders.

But the religious elite, which helped the Al Saud family to found a Kingdom with the Quran as its constitution in the 1930s, had held back efforts at judicial and educational reform - seen as vital to catch up with modernity and combat militancy.

King Abdullah has in the past moved cautiously, despite his reputation as reform-minded.

While there are few constitutional limits on his power - an appointed Shura Council has only advisory functions - he must consider the wishes of the extended royal family and the clerical establishment, as well as public opinion.

"The king will introduce more reform gradually," said Alani.

I believe that this move will give equality in law as previously sharia was only imposed to poor and non-influential residents and citizens of the kingdom.
Mahmood Mian
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 17, 2009, 11:42