Is Saudi Arabia Opening Up? by Daniel Pipes

Daniel Pipes, a long time observer/scholar of Middle East affairs, is a committed Zionist and though appears to speak softly on Islam, Muslim and Arab Affairs, he is unabashedly dedicated to the Zionist mission, to study Muslim affairs and sow divisions within the Ummah.

http://www.danielpipes.org/9274/saudi-arabia-opening-up

Is Saudi Arabia Opening Up?

by Daniel Pipes
National Review Online
January 4, 2011

On Jan. 1, 1996, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz became regent and effective ruler of Saudi Arabia. His 15^th anniversary this week offers an opportunity to review the kingdom's changes under his leadership and whither it now heads.

The Saudi king, Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, 86.

His is perhaps the most unusual and opaque country on the planet, a place without a public movie theater, where women may not drive, where men sell women's lingerie, where a single-button self-destruct system can perhaps destroy the oil infrastructure, and where rulers spurn even the patina of democracy. In its place, they have developed some highly original and successful mechanisms to keep power.


Three features define the regime: controlling the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, subscribing to the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam, and possessing by far the world's largest petroleum reserve. Islam defines identity, Wahhabism inspires global ambitions, oil wealth funds the enterprise.

More profoundly, wealth beyond avarice permits Saudis to deal with modernity on their own terms. They shun jacket and tie, exclude women from the workspace, and even aspire to replace Greenwich Mean Time with Mecca Mean Time.

Not many years ago, the key debate in the kingdom was that between the monarchical and Taliban versions of Wahhabism – an extreme reading of Islam versus a fanatical one. But today, thanks in large part to Abdullah's efforts to "tame Wahhabi zeal," the most retrograde country has taken some cautious steps to join the modern world. These efforts have many dimensions, from children's education to mechanisms for selecting political leaders, but perhaps the most crucial one is the battle among the ulema, the Islamic men of religion, between reformers and hardliners.

The arcane terms of this dispute make it difficult for outsiders to follow. Fortunately, Roel Meijer, a Dutch Middle East specialist, provides an expert's guide to arguments in the kingdom in his article, "Reform in Saudi Arabia: The Gender-Segregation Debate." He demonstrates how gender mixing (ikhtilat in Arabic) inspires a debate central to the kingdom's future and how that debate has evolved.

Current stringencies about gender separation, he notes, reflect less age-old custom than the success of the Sahwa movement in the aftermath of two traumatic events in 1979 – the Iranian revolution and the seizure of the Grand Mosque of Mecca by Osama bin Laden-style radicals.

When Abdullah formally ascended to the monarchy in mid-2005, he ushered in an easing of what critics call gender apartheid. Two key recent events toward greater ikhtilat took place in 2009: a change of high government personnel in February and the September opening of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (known as KAUST), with its ostentatiously mixed-gender classes and even dances.

The Saudi crown prince, Sultan bin Abdulaziz, 82.

Debate over ikhtilat ensued, with jousting among royals, political figures, ulema, and intellectuals. "Although the position of women has improved since 9/11, ikhtilat demarcates the battle lines between reformists and conservatives [i.e., hardliners]. Any attempt to diminish its enforcement is regarded as a direct attack on the standing of conservatives and Islam itself."

Meijer concludes his survey of the debate by noting that "it is extremely difficult to determine whether reforms are successful and whether the liberals or conservatives are making gains. Although the general trend is in favor of the reformists, reform is piecemeal, hesitant, equivocal and strongly resisted."

The state under Abdullah has promoted a more open and tolerant Islam but, Meijer argues, "it is obvious from the ikhtilat debate that the battle has not been won. Many Saudis are fed up with the inordinate interference of religious authorities in their lives, and one can even speak of an anti-clerical movement. The liberals, however, speak a language that is alien to the world of official Wahhabism and the majority of Saudis and is therefore hardly likely to influence them."

In brief, Arabians are in mid-debate, with the future course of reform as yet unpredictable. Not only do elite and public opinion play a role, but, complicating matters, much hangs on the quirks of longevity and personality – in particular, how long Abdullah, 86, remains in charge and whether his ailing half-brother crown prince, Sultan bin Abdulaziz, 82, will succeed him.

Saudi Arabia being one of the world's most influential Muslim countries, the stakes involved are high, not just within the kingdom but for Islam and for Muslims generally. This debate deserves our full attention.

Mr. Pipes is director of the Middle East Forum and Taube distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University.

(Indian Prime Minister Manmohan) Singh allays Arab concern - Arab Times

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article23074.ece

Singh allays Arab concern

By ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 27, 2010 12:45 AM Updated: Feb 27, 2010 4:57 PM

JEDDAH: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that Arab concern about growing Indo-Israeli defense cooperation is "misplaced."

Last year it was reported that Israel had replaced Russia as India's top supplier of defense equipment. The Indian premier was speaking in a special interview prior to his visit to the Kingdom. He arrives Saturday at the head of one of the most important Indian delegations to visit the Kingdom in years.

"Our relationship with no single country is at the expense of our relations with any other country," he said.

As to India's support for Palestine, it was "an article of faith for us," he added.

"Our solidarity with the people of Palestine predates our independence," he said. "India supports a peaceful solution that would result in a sovereign, independent, viable and united state of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, side by side at peace with Israel."

The Arab Peace Plan, the Quartet road map and the various UN Security Council resolutions on the issue were firmly supported by India. He recently confirmed this to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during the latter's visit to Delhi a fortnight ago.

The relationship with Saudi Arabia was of prime importance for India, the premier said. Trade was of particular importance. Following the visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in January 2006 — a visit the Indian premier called a "landmark event" — the two countries have made "considerable" progress in strengthening their relationship, he said. "There have been regular high-level ministerial exchanges as well as intensified interaction among the business community, academia and other sections of society," he explained.

The India-Saudi Arabia Joint Commission that met in November drew up "ambitious" plans, he said, pointing out that trade between the two countries is worth over SR95 billion and that Saudi Arabia is India's fourth largest trading partner. He also pointed to the number of joint ventures involving Indian investors in the Kingdom. This stood at over 500 and was worth over SR7.5 billion. India was equally looking hopefully to greater Saudi investment in the opposite direction, he added.

He hoped his visit would provide ample opportunity for "interacting with the members of the business community in Saudi Arabia and inviting them to be a partner in India's rapid socioeconomic transformation through major infrastructure, energy, industry and services related projects."

The visit would, he revealed, result in several cooperation agreements in economic, cultural, scientific, technological and information technology fields. "I am confident these will further enrich our close relations," he said.

As both countries rapidly modernize, greater cooperation makes sense, he declared.  Both have a "huge stake" in each other's success, and to that extent the relationship is of "strategic importance".

"I would like to see a much greater integration of our economies, higher flow of trade and investment, better connectivity and freer flow of ideas and people," Singh declared.

An important aspect of his visit would be political cooperation, particularly regional security, he said. India and Saudi Arabia "belong to the same extended neighborhood," he explained. "In the Delhi Declaration, we had pledged to work together not just for our bilateral benefit, but also to promote peace, stability and security in the region and the world."

He believed that India and Saudi Arabia had a particular responsibility to ensure peace in the area. "We are witnessing significant geopolitical developments, which will directly impact on the peace and stability in the region," he said. "All these issues need to be addressed through sustained efforts."

Singh said he would talk about regional issues with King Abdullah, and "discuss how we can work together to address the complex issues at hand."

For him terrorism remains "the single biggest threat to peace, stability and to our progress." He indicated a need for closer cooperation to confront it at regional level. All GCC countries, he said, shared India's concerns on extremism and terrorism. In particular, India rejected the idea that "any religion or cause" could be used to justify violence against innocent people.

"We have institutionalized our cooperation with the Gulf countries by putting in place various security cooperation agreements, including extradition treaties," Singh said.

But much more needs to be done, he added. "Given the fact that today extremist and terrorist activities straddle South Asia and West Asia and constitute a grave threat to our peoples, I agree that the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) and GCC anti-terrorism efforts should be more effectively coordinated."

Sounding a somber but encouraging note on relations with Pakistan, the Indian prime minister said that terrorism was the "primary" issue. "We seek a peaceful and normal relationship with Pakistan," he said. "In that quest we have consistently sought to engage those in Pakistan who are ready to work with us. There is no alternative to dialogue to resolve the issues that divide us."

Taking a conciliatory view, he made it clear that he saw Pakistan as a victim of terrorism too. "As a neighbor, we cannot remain immune to the rise of extremism and terrorism in Pakistan, or on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Extremism and terrorism are major threats not only to India, but also to Pakistan, and all its other neighbors," he said.

It was in the region's collective interest that "we resolutely oppose, resist and overcome terrorism and all those who nurture, sustain and give sanctuary to terrorists and extremist elements."

On the Kashmir issue in particular, he said that India was ready to discuss "all issues" with Islamabad "in an atmosphere free from terrorism" — a statement that could be seen as a precondition. 

The Indian prime minister welcomed King Abdullah's inter-faith initiative and indicated he saw a role for India, which valued "the principles of peaceful coexistence and harmony among nations".  India would, he said, work with all like-minded countries to create a "just and equitable international order that is conducive to meeting the challenges of poverty, illiteracy and hunger."

Indians, he said, well understood and supported the concept of inter-faith dialogue. "The knowledge of religious beliefs and practices of other people is important in itself and can foster greater understanding and tolerance," he said. "We have experience of this in our own country."

Islam is, he said, "an integral part of India's democratic and secular fabric.  Muslims in India are part of our national mosaic and have enriched our society."

Speaking about the welfare of the 1.7 million Indians living and working in the Kingdom, he said it was a matter of "high priority" for his government. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs had, he said,  "worked tirelessly" for the welfare of the Indian community in hand with governments in the Gulf. Arrangements had been put in place to help Indians facing problems, including a 24-hour helpline, temporary shelters, counseling centers and improved community welfare offices at the embassy in Riyadh and the consulate-general in Jeddah.

He indicated, however, that more would have to be done. "We are in the process of reforming our own procedures, including better regulation of the recruitment process."

There are reports of a new Indian initiative planned on this in the next few weeks.