http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=68049&d=7&m=8&y=2005
Sunday, 7, August, 2005 (02, Rajab, 1426)
Islamic Scholars See New Era of Unity, Openness
Ebtihal Mubarak, Arab News
JEDDAH, 7 August 2005 - Two leading Muslim scholars express
optimism about the coming era of reform in the Kingdom and say they expect
meaningful change to come in a slow, deliberate manner.
The two scholars, Sheikh Hasan Al-Saffar, from the Eastern
Province, and Mohsen Al-Awajy, from Riyadh, both took part in the National
Dialogues, a series of conferences seeking common ground about the Kingdom's
future.
Al-Saffar said the reform process began with the holding of
National Dialogues and the formation of the National Society for Human Rights
and the first balloting in municipal elections. "The next stage will witness
activation of these initiatives on the road to reform," he said.
Al-Saffar said he thought reform would neither be swift nor
dramatic. "That is not how Saudi policy works, as it always goes through a
deliberate, gradual process," he said.
Al-Awajy agreed with Al-Saffar's perspective.
"I don't think that there is going to be any radical change
in the reform path," he said. "King Abdullah is well-known to counsel a number
of people."
When the question of religious minorities within the Kingdom
was posed, Al-Saffar said: "There aren't any religious minorities in the
Kingdom. All citizens of Saudi Arabia are Muslims, thank God. They belong to
different 'madahib' (schools of religious thought) whether Sunni or Shia. Some
of the followers of certain Islamic schools, however, complain of abuses of
their religious rights as well as some of their civil rights."
Al-Saffar attributes past abuses to "inaccurate practices
from certain parties who monopolize religious representation to them and want
to cancel the others' (representation)."
Al-Awajy said that all citizens should have equal rights, but
the country needs a fresh start. "People who suffered in the past from
inequalities should not to be given compensation or privileges in exchange for
whatever discrimination they faced," Al-Awajy said. "Start anew, and assure all
citizens their rights."
It's a start he said that has already been made.
"King Abdullah's initiation in holding the National Dialogue
was to resolve this condition," Al-Saffar said. "King Abdullah stated clearly
in his speech that his goal is to achieve justice and serve all citizens
without discrimination." "We are all sons of this country and partners in
constructing and defending it," he added.
The Shiite scholar said there needed to be methods in place
to ensure that concerns expressed in the National Dialogue would result in
actions being taken.
Without such measures, he said, "it will merely be a cultural
gathering that lacks the ability to face a severe problem from which the
country and its citizens suffer - intentional discrimination between its
citizens."
Both see the nation's new king as a wise ruler committed to
positive changes. "From King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan, we can hope and
trust for every public good," Al-Saffar said.
"Saudi Arabia will build the channels to encourage freedom of
speech," Al-Awajy said. "We want the government to initiate reforms but don't
want it to go ahead without proper planning," he added.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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