Definitely too soon to say this is a new norm but interesting story on some visible signs of 'moderation/modernity' in Saudi Arabia.
The article does not really answer why this is happening now and I am not saying the recent success/stabilization in Iraq cause this in Saudi Arabia ... however, I can't help but believe what has occured over the past 5 years or so did contribute into Saudi Arabia's 'calculations'.
Saudi king shakes up religious establishment - Saudi Arabia- msnbc.com
Quote:
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi king on Saturday dismissed the chief of the religious police and a cleric who condoned killing the owners of TV networks that broadcast "immoral" content, signaling an effort to weaken the country's hard-line Sunni establishment.
The shake-up — King Abdullah's first since coming to power in August 2005 — included the appointment of a female deputy minister, the highest government position a Saudi woman has attained.
The king also changed the makeup of an influential body of religious scholars, for the first time giving more moderate Sunnis representation to the group whose duties include issuing the religious edicts known as fatwas.
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