| Submit your comments on this article |
| Arabia |
| Prince Talal: Saudi Arabia not a theocracy |
| 2004-08-16 |
| Saudi Arabia is not a religious state, despite being ruled by Islamic law, and the government is trying to strike a balance between liberals and Islamists in its drive for reform, Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz, the half-brother of Saudi King Fahd, told an online Arabic newspaper. "Saudi Arabia is not a theocracy despite applying Islamic law," the maverick Saudi prince told Elaph newspaper (www.elaph.com), launched from London, in an interview published Monday. "Islamists should take into consideration that the kingdom is a signatory to international treaties that should be respected," he said, insisting that both the Saudi people and the government wanted reform. "The two parties want reform but we should not forget that there is a struggle between Islamists and liberals. Each party tries to tip the balance to its side," he said. "The ruler tries to maintain a balance between the conflicting sides. Islamists however hold an important card, as the kingdom was established on the basis of Islamic law," added the former finance minister, whose outspoken views on democracy have clashed with other members of the Saudi royal family. |
| Posted by:TS(vice girl) |
| #10 It's not a theocracy. It's a bananna republic. Without the banannas. Or the republic. But you know what I'm trying to say. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-08-16 6:19:43 PM |
| #9 Of course it is not: Theocracy means "God rules". Now whoever rules KSA, it's not God. Frank G has it right. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-08-16 3:47:25 PM |
| #8 Prince Talal: Saudi Arabia not a theocracy And the Berlin wall was a split rail fence to keep the cows in. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-08-16 3:43:41 PM |
| #7 just brown shirts with a different justification for their power |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-08-16 2:23:44 PM |
| #6 If it's not a theocracy, then why do they have Religious Police? (muttaween) |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-08-16 2:11:03 PM |
| #5 We all know that mecca and medina are freaky holy. Pray there and it's like praying X-factor any place else, no? If I were a muslim I'd kill my daughter to get there. I think the prophet would have trouble with anything other than a total controlling leagle authority over the folks of the realm. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-08-16 1:21:27 PM |
| #4 And I thought the Nile ran through Egypt. |
| Posted by: dreadnought 2004-08-16 11:19:53 AM |
| #3 Frank is correct. The rest of the article is bullsh*t. |
| Posted by: Spot 2004-08-16 10:46:01 AM |
| #2 Headline: Prince Talal: Saudi Arabia not a theocracy But of course. And the Pope is really a Muslim. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2004-08-16 10:32:29 AM |
| #1 it's a family kleptocracy that uses religion as cover |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-08-16 10:28:33 AM |