Saudi Arabia: the religious establishment defines prospects of reforms; The Mufti opposes banning of French veil
Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/28/2004

The Saudi Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, announced his opposition to banning the veil in the government schools and public administrations in France and found in that a violation to human rights.

In a meeting with university graduates in Mecca, the Mufti said that "interference in the veil of the Muslim woman is an intervention in a personal matter and a violation to human rights which they advocate" in France.

The Mufti continued "should the matter pertains to nudeness it will be said that it is man's rights to his personal freedom," calling for the same freedoms to these women. On the other hand, the recent Fatwa made recently by al-Sheikh that Islam forbids men and women from mixing in public sites, recalled the frame for reformers who call for preserving rights of women in the Kingdom.

University professor Raed Qasti said "the Mentality of the religious establishment goes back to the pre- history age and obstructs all sorts of reforms." He added that extremists conservatives control every thing in the Kingdom and fight any reform because it is for them a threat at the political, social or economic sides.

The Saudi religious group inspire their authority from the alliance between al-Saud and Sheikh Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahab, the founder of the Wahabbi movement in the 18th century. The Islamic lawyer Mohson Auji who spent four years in prison since 1994 because he demanded reform said that "Saudi Arabia was established on religious foundations. It is ( religion ) an instrument to control Saudi Arabia and without it it will be partitioned to tribal societies."

Previous Stories:
  London's conference for the Saudi opposition calls for democracy in the Kingdom   (1/24/2004)
  Saudi Mufti deplores removing the veil in a conference in Jeddah, King nephew accuses his government of kidnapping him   (1/21/2004)
  Al-Assad confers with the Saudi FM on Arab League development   (1/21/2004)

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