The young, forward-thinking Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is introducing the kind of reforms that could distance Saudi Arabia from its fundamentalist Islamic past. He is ushering in major reforms including women’s rights, gender mixing, and and promotion of popular, non-Islamic entertainment.
Mohammed Bin Salman is focusing on public issues rather than religious ones, with the possibility that consumption of alchohol could be legalized as a way to increase Western tourism. He has even described the radical mullahs who preside over Iran as “Nazis.”
Bin Salman’s plan has been met, in some media quarters, with condemnation, but for many in the Western press, Mohammed’s power grab is the action of a bold “reformer,” a roguish bad boy doing the messy but essential work of “reforming” the kingdom—the “anti-corruption” pretext of the purge largely repeated without qualification. The most prominent sources for this spin were two major newspapers, the New York Times and Guardian:
According to the Guardian (11/7/17), ‘This Is a Revolution’: Saudis Absorb Crown Prince’s Rush to Reform: Consolidation of power in Mohammed Bin Salman’s hands has upended all aspects of society, including the previously untouchable Ultra-Elite. Mohammed Bin Salman is confronting some of the kingdom’s richest and most powerful men in his Aati-corruption drive.
Saudi Arabia’s leadership has pulled off its boldest move yet to consolidate power around its young crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, arresting 11 senior princes, one of the country’s richest men and scores of former ministers in what it billed as a corruption purge.
The move sidelined at least 20 senior figures, among them outspoken billionaire, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, sending shockwaves through the ranks of the kingdom’s elites, who had long viewed senior royals as immune.
The Crown Prince told the Guardian last month that the kingdom had been “not normal” for the past 30 years and pledged to return Saudi Arabia to moderate Islam.
Under MBS, Saudi Arabia has gone from global Islamofascist hub to Israeli ally & Saudi Vision 2030.”
Classy Infidel says
I really, but really, like that guy. You see it in his eyes, he has life in those eyes whereas followers of Mohamed PBUH have dead eyes and no true smile.
Because the country was under a harsh rule for so long, he must proceed gradually. And, please, do not ever accept exhibitionists such as the slutty Pride movement. I have no problem with gay and lesbian people but keep it in the bed, not on the streets nor in the schools.
David Grisez says
In Saudi Arabia there are two great houses that run the country of Saudi Arabia. The government and Saudi kings come from the house of Saud. The Islamic religious leadership and the Grand Muftis come from the house of Al Sheik. There could soon be a major conflict between the Saudi Crown Prince and the religious leadership to keep Saudi Arabia holding to a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia Law.
DavidW says
Short answer, “no,” How does one modernize a religion when the revelations as stated by their prophet are so backward and anti-Christian/Jew/Woman/etc.? How can you say that one part of the Koran must be ignored/excised and the other part is okay when it all came from Mohammed (and is thus the word of God as revealed through Mohammed)? I don’t see how you can reconcile this unless you just create a new Koran and force everyone to follow the “clean and nice” version.
Conrad Calvano says
Surprisingly he has come as a breath of fresh air, compared to the one he replaced by throwing him in prison. When we overlook his planned murder of Kashoogi, he has been doing things that are a welcome change from the usual medieval ways that the Saudis followed. That said, I am not sure how much of a modernization Islam can undergo! The Koran pretty much makes it impossible. The US clowns had a clean slate in both Iraq and Afghanistan, to make a new progressive Constitution for those countries. In both cases they mucked it up, wherein in the very preamble they state that the Constitution derives its laws from the Koran. Any wonder what happened after that in those nations? As long as Saudi Arabia continues to be an Islamic haven, home to the two holiest Mosques in Islam, there is precious little that can be done to make that nation anything like normal.
zasde35 says
It is a slow process what has to be handled very carefully .
Linda Rivera says
He’s AMAZING and outstanding for Saudi Arabia’s advancement and success.
The worldwide majority of Muslims will INTENSELY HATE the Saudi Crown Prince. Especially CAIR and all the Muslim organizations in America, Britain, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
And the God-Hater UN and the God-Hater EU.
Condor 18 says
He may be serious, but whenever he runs headlong into the Wahabis he will hit a brick wall
BareNakedIslam says
Maybe not. The King is old and won’t be around that much longer.
allanivarsson says
BNI, he is doing good things… problem is… after his death… what replaces him… might return Saudi to the ‘Dark Ages’ of Muhammad mentality.
BareNakedIslam says
I think he’s only 31.