Unfortunately, the Interior Ministry neglected to quote where in the Koran it says you are not allowed to have demonstrations, so I guess everyone will just have to take their word for it.SAUDI ARABIA: Protests 'contradict' Islamic law and are banned, Interior ministry declares [Updated]
After demonstrators staged protests demanding the release of political prisoners, and activists urged sweeping reforms in Saudi Arabia, the ultra-conservative kingdom appears to have decided to put the lid on street-based calls for change.
[Updated at 9:25 a.m.: The headline on an earlier version of this post said demonstrations by Shiites were deemed to contradict Islamic law. The interior ministry said all demonstrations, not just ones by Shiites, were contrary to Islamic law.]
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia's interior ministry reportedly issued a statement deeming all sorts of protests in the kingdom illegal with the explanation that demonstrations are not in line with Islamic law and values of Saudi society.
"Regulations in the kingdom forbid categorically all sorts of demonstrations, marches and sit-ins ... as they contradict Islamic Sharia law and the values and traditions of Saudi society," said a ministry statement published on the official SPA state news agency.
Still, does the Saudi Kingdom really think that people who are protesting for reforms to begin with are going to be satisfied by a self-serving decree like this?
If they do, then the House of Saud really is doomed.
Technorati Tag: Saudi Arabia.
Daled, Saudi Arabia is a closed society.
ReplyDeleteIt has no Tahrir Square to worry about, has no Western press to expose it, isn't concerned about world opinion and won't hesitate to open fire on demonstrators.
And as for unrest, it can use its oil wealth to buy other opponents off.
It would be interesting to see if a rebellion emerges in Saudi Arabia but I wouldn't bet on it.