More than 100 Saudi intellectuals and academics have again petitioned their rulers to press ahead with political reforms to help curb the recent surge in armed attacks. One of the reform petition's architects said on Tuesday that it partly attributed Islamist violence in Saudi Arabia to the absence of political participation.
| Actually, I attribute it to ignorance and a culture that reveres, yea, venerates violence. And to xenophobia. And in-breeding... |
The reformer, who declined to be named, said the petition - the second since September - asked the ruling family to give ordinary Saudis a say in affairs of state and transform the absolute monarchy into a constitutional one similar to Jordan or Bahrain. It also reiterated calls for an elected parliament, an independent judiciary and equal rights for women, who are not allowed to drive in the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom.
"This document has been signed by academics, Islamic judges and scholars, former ministers, human rights activists and other key personalities in society," the reformer said. "We wanted to be convincing and to tell the ruling family that this is the opinion of those who want reform because they care about our country and want to see it prosper."
| Well, your mullahs won't let you do it, so don't even think about it. |
He said the document was mailed to Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Abdullah and several ministers last week. |