Comments on: The Saudi Debate over Freedom of Expression http://xrdarabia.org/2008/11/12/the-saudi-debate-over-freedom-of-expression/ Informed comment and commentary about Saudi Arabia, reform, and its relations with the US Wed, 23 May 2012 23:26:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: John Burgess http://xrdarabia.org/2008/11/12/the-saudi-debate-over-freedom-of-expression/comment-page-1/#comment-16864 John Burgess Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:08:39 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=5964#comment-16864 They have a bit more weight than op-eds, I think, but maybe not a whole lot more. Clerics have a following, but they also have opposition. Those inclined to follow the cleric are likely to put more weight in his declaration of legal or not legal. For some clerics, it is indeed posturing, looking to buff their reputations and perhaps find a way to capitalize on it. For some, it might be a TV or radio program; for others, it might be getting in with the government sponsored ulema. But I think most of these fatwas are coming from clerics who strongly believe what they are saying... they're not posturing. Many Saudis think the country is going to hell in a handbasket because of moral laxity, inattention to religious requirements, getting too cozy with non-Muslms, and the like. They have a bit more weight than op-eds, I think, but maybe not a whole lot more. Clerics have a following, but they also have opposition. Those inclined to follow the cleric are likely to put more weight in his declaration of legal or not legal.

For some clerics, it is indeed posturing, looking to buff their reputations and perhaps find a way to capitalize on it. For some, it might be a TV or radio program; for others, it might be getting in with the government sponsored ulema.

But I think most of these fatwas are coming from clerics who strongly believe what they are saying… they’re not posturing. Many Saudis think the country is going to hell in a handbasket because of moral laxity, inattention to religious requirements, getting too cozy with non-Muslms, and the like.

]]> By: Michael Gonyea http://xrdarabia.org/2008/11/12/the-saudi-debate-over-freedom-of-expression/comment-page-1/#comment-16863 Michael Gonyea Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:03:13 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=5964#comment-16863 It seems to me fatwas are thrown around in S.A. like op-eds are in Western media. Do people act on them or are they nothing more than posturing [public relations and/or propaganda]? It seems to me fatwas are thrown around in S.A. like op-eds are in Western media. Do people act on them or are they nothing more than posturing [public relations and/or propaganda]?

]]>