http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=127055&d=5&m=10&y=2009
Monday 5 October 2009 (16 Shawwal 1430)
Al-Shethri relieved of his duties
Arab News
Sheikh Saad bin Nasser bin Abdul Aziz Al-Shethri
JEDDAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on Sunday issued
a royal decree relieving Sheikh Saad bin Nasser bin Abdul Aziz Al-Shethri of
his duties as member of the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars and the
permanent committee for Islamic research and ruling (Ifta).
"We hereby instruct all concerned departments to implement this order,"
the decree said.
The action against the scholar came a few days after his controversial
statement questioning co-education at King Abdullah University of Science and
Technology (KAUST), which was officially opened by the king on Sept. 23 in the
presence of several world leaders and renowned scientists and academics.
During a talk show on Al-Majd Islamic TV channel last week, Al-Shethri
said mixing of sexes in the land of the Two Holy Mosques was unacceptable. He
also wanted a Shariah committee to look into the studies being conducted at the
international university and their compatibility with Shariah Law.
The sheikh's comment drew widespread criticism. Many Saudi writers and
intellectuals opposed his views and said the mixing of sexes should not be
considered immoral. "If the sheikh views it immoral then we have to shut down
all hospitals, shopping malls and even the Two Holy Mosques," Abdu Khal wrote
in his column.
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