[An Nahar] An influential Saudi holy man who once served for years as head of the kingdom's Shariah courts and whose ultraconservative views sparked outcry died on Wednesday, leaving behind a legacy that mirrored the kingdom's decades-long slide toward Wahhabism. His family announced his death on Twitter, saying 90-year-ol Sheikh Saleh bin Mohammed al-Luhaidan died after battling an illness that was not disclosed. His funeral is taking place Wednesday in line with Islamic tradition of immediate burial.On Twitter, an Arabic hashtag with his name saw an outpouring of prayers and praise for the holy man and Islamic scholar.
His ultraconservative views, though in line with the country's Wahhabi doctrine at the time, prompted his sacking in 2009 as head of Saudi Arabia