As Saudi Arabia continues to push ahead with sweeping cultural and economic reforms, the Kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has promised a return to "a more moderate Islam."
He would be prepared to "destroy" extremist ideologies in order to put the country in unison with other nations around the world, said Saudi Arabia's crown prince while speaking at Riyadh's Future Investment Initiative conference on Tuesday.
"In all honesty, we will not spend 30 years of our lives dealing with extremist ideologies. We will destroy them today and immediately," he said.
"Saudi was not like this before 1979. Saudi Arabia and the entire region went through a revival after 1979 … All we are doing is going back to what we were: a moderate Islam that is open to all religions and to the world and to all traditions and people," he said.
In 1979, Riyadh jostled with Iran for leadership of the Islamic world and was a tumultuous year for the country and the crown prince's reference to that year was likely a nod to the hardships pf that year. In that year, a deadly revolt was also staged by Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority.
The Saudi monarchy restored many of its hardline stances restored many of its hardline stances after it strengthened ties with the Wahhabi religious establishment in response. Placing numerous restrictions on women numerous restrictions on women, banning the mixing of sexes in public and emphasizing the absolute sovereignty of God, Wahhabism is a form of Islam.
A new age of Saudi politics was sought to be introduced by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud – alongside bin Salman in 2015. And making him heir apparent, the king promoted bin Salman to crown prince in June.
Gradually granting women a growing number of rights — including the right to drive, which is set to take effect in 2018, sanctioning the first music concerts in decades and cracking down on religious incitement, down on religious incitement, the two have taken some long strides.
"Some clear steps were taken recently and I believe we will obliterate the remnants of extremism very soon," bin Salman said.
The Saudi Kingdom still has a long way to go in order to modernize, reported in recent months by watchdog groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
the mammoth task of rapidly transforming Saudi Arabia's economy has been currently undertaken by the crown prince at present. By taking a portion of its state oil giant Saudi Aramco public next year, the Kingdom aims to raise about $100 billion. Through a plan called Vision 2030, the funds will underwrite an effort to diversify the nation's economy.
Saudi Arabia's transition from a petrostate to a Gulf nation built on a broader range of industries was hastened due to the precipitous drop of oil prices from more than $100 a barrel in 2014 to roughly $55 to date.
Both directly and indirectly, oil reportedly employs around 70 percent of Saudi Arabia's population at present. And while receiving free education, free health care, and subsidies for most utilities, Saudi citizens pay no taxes.
(Source:www.cnbc.com)
He would be prepared to "destroy" extremist ideologies in order to put the country in unison with other nations around the world, said Saudi Arabia's crown prince while speaking at Riyadh's Future Investment Initiative conference on Tuesday.
"In all honesty, we will not spend 30 years of our lives dealing with extremist ideologies. We will destroy them today and immediately," he said.
"Saudi was not like this before 1979. Saudi Arabia and the entire region went through a revival after 1979 … All we are doing is going back to what we were: a moderate Islam that is open to all religions and to the world and to all traditions and people," he said.
In 1979, Riyadh jostled with Iran for leadership of the Islamic world and was a tumultuous year for the country and the crown prince's reference to that year was likely a nod to the hardships pf that year. In that year, a deadly revolt was also staged by Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority.
The Saudi monarchy restored many of its hardline stances restored many of its hardline stances after it strengthened ties with the Wahhabi religious establishment in response. Placing numerous restrictions on women numerous restrictions on women, banning the mixing of sexes in public and emphasizing the absolute sovereignty of God, Wahhabism is a form of Islam.
A new age of Saudi politics was sought to be introduced by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud – alongside bin Salman in 2015. And making him heir apparent, the king promoted bin Salman to crown prince in June.
Gradually granting women a growing number of rights — including the right to drive, which is set to take effect in 2018, sanctioning the first music concerts in decades and cracking down on religious incitement, down on religious incitement, the two have taken some long strides.
"Some clear steps were taken recently and I believe we will obliterate the remnants of extremism very soon," bin Salman said.
The Saudi Kingdom still has a long way to go in order to modernize, reported in recent months by watchdog groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
the mammoth task of rapidly transforming Saudi Arabia's economy has been currently undertaken by the crown prince at present. By taking a portion of its state oil giant Saudi Aramco public next year, the Kingdom aims to raise about $100 billion. Through a plan called Vision 2030, the funds will underwrite an effort to diversify the nation's economy.
Saudi Arabia's transition from a petrostate to a Gulf nation built on a broader range of industries was hastened due to the precipitous drop of oil prices from more than $100 a barrel in 2014 to roughly $55 to date.
Both directly and indirectly, oil reportedly employs around 70 percent of Saudi Arabia's population at present. And while receiving free education, free health care, and subsidies for most utilities, Saudi citizens pay no taxes.
(Source:www.cnbc.com)
