Its almost like the image implications that all Muslims/Arabs are terrorists/jihadis. It effects their image and renders them target for profiling even from government agencies. I seen my share of radical perspective from both sides and recently I came to respect those from both sects that dared to question the political affiliations of their sects. For example when recently a group of Saudi Shia clerks with a collateral effort from other Shia sect in the Middle East region spoke up about the faith and how its been radicalized of late, the questioned about Khumus (1 fifth Shia followers pay to their clergy structure), I believe Saudijeans talked about it of recent. Its an admirable compromise to create integration. In the eastern region you might not find the Sunni oblivious about Shia, both might have good integration with each other. However if you go question about Najd area opinion about the Eastern Region.. they will think Al Ahsa city for example to be a radical Shia area.. while the demographic is generally a mix of sub sects Sunni and Shia sects, some even have families that have both Shia believers and sunni believers. Yet there isn’t tension between the two sides. Still a Sunni from Al Ahsa might think twice about going to Qateef area for example.. usually people fear what they don’t understand.. even if it wasn’t just.

I have recently seen effort from both sides to improve the relations.. quell extremism and sectarian tension between the two. It’s not going to be resolved in an overnight.. but change will be gradual.. hopefully it will allow a great turn out. I have met a lot of Shia teachers and colleague whom I respect for their professionalism and success. While I met some undereducated, under resourced Shia men who lived beyond their means in villages and had 4 wives. The stories that Shia and Sunnah have about each other now might not all be accurate, bad they still create an opinion about the other side. I do hope both take this time of change to reflect on themselves.. and see how one nation population became puppets for others.

He can and does keep continued pressure on them. He can and does insist on religious dialogue among the sects in Saudi Arabia. He has lightened the burden on the Shi’a, even if he cannot command the ulema to welcome them as equals. I wish him a long life to get done all the things that need doing.

Not such a bad idea…

I thought I wasn’t supposed to be here commenting…HEY when it’s good its good. hehehehehehehehehehe

This again, though, takes me to the notion that the primary issue is the absence of separation between religious law (as defined by the ulemaa) and man-made laws.

In a society truly guided by the religion of the Rasulullah, there would be freedom of conscience to express and choose one own’s theology.

So, if a woman chose to adopt a Sufi perspective, that would be permitted, or an Allawi perspective, etc.

The real difficulty is that governmental power and governmental compulsory mechanisms have been given over to the ulemaa.

As the Rasulullah indicated, there should be no compulsion in religion. That would include an absence of compulsion by self-chosen theological autocrats (the ulemaa).

He is no different than any other Saudi, he got to complete his education to holding his bachelor degree (hopefully next semester)

But I think maybe non-Saudi wives who get divorced have their citizenship revoked. I cannot confirm about how that would affect the children education. But I can confirm that any Saudi citizen with a foreign parent cannot join any military establishment.

Stepford wives had it easier: they didn’t feel the abuse.