Saudi king calls for moderate Islam

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For decades Wahhabism, the strict strain of Islam that promotes a literal interpretation of the Quran, has been Saudi Arabia’s predominant faith, and since the 1970s the oil-rich kingdom has been generous in sending funds to other Muslim countries to promote this conservative version of Islam.

Now that Wahhabism has been linked with radicalism and even terrorism, the Saudi government has stepped up its campaign to counter that perception and the state visit of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Indonesia, where religious conservatism has gained ground alongside frequent terrorist attacks, was part of the public relations campaign. After dealing with business on the first day of his visit, King Salman on Thursday kicked off his charm offensive in a speech during a 30-minute special session at the House of Representatives, calling for a united front to deal with what he termed “a clash of civilizations” and terrorism.

“The challenges that the Muslim community and the world in general faces, like terrorism and the clash of civilizations and the lack of respect for a country’s sovalso ereignty, require us to unite in dealing with these challenges,” the monarch said in his two-minute speech, which was interrupted by rounds of applause from members of the House and guests, including former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and former vice president Try Sutrisno.

Later in his meetings with leaders of the country’s major Islamic organizations, the octogenarian king promoted a tolerant version of Islam as the key in the fight against terrorism and radicalism.

Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifudin, who had organized the meeting, said Indonesia and Saudi Arabia agreed to promote a moderate version of Islam.

“The two countries have come to an understanding that we would prioritize the promotion of Islam as rahmatan lil alamin [blessing for the universe]. What is needed to maintain the stability of global civilization is the moderation of Islam,” said Lukman, who joined the 30-minute session at the State Palace on Wednesday. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo attended.

During the session, three Muslim scholars were given the chance to speak directly to the monarch, including Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Maruf Amin, who issued an edict last year calling for the prosecution of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahja Purnama for allegedly insulting the Quran.

Earlier on Wednesday, King Salman and President Jokowi witnessed the signing of 11 agreements, including one addressing the issue of transnational crimes and global extremism, radicalism and terrorism.

To further bolster its counterterrorism campaign, the Saudi government offered free haj trips for family members of personnel of the National Police’s counterterrorism squad Densus 88 who were killed while on duty.

To further burnish his credentials as a promoter of moderate Islam, King Salman is expected to hold an interfaith forum on Friday, shortly before departing for Brunei Darussalam.

Despite the visiting monarch’s pledge to join efforts to counter radicalism, the Saudi government continues to promote its conservative brand of Islam.

Saudi Arabia is likely to step up its campaign to spread its version of Islam as it plans to open new campuses of the Saudi-funded Islamic and Arabic College of Indonesia (LIPIA) in Makassar, Surabaya and Medan.

Currently, LIPIA only has a campus in Jakarta.

Students studying at LIPIA will pay no tuition fees, as they receive Saudi-funded scholarships. Students will also receive a monthly stipend while studying at the institute.

The college is known for graduating students ingrained with the conservative strain of Islam, including convicted terrorist Aman Abdurrahman, who has been known for his efforts to spread Islamic State (IS) movement propaganda.

Alongside the Indonesian Society for the Propagation of Islam (DDII), LIPIA has been the primary beneficiary of Saudi funding in the country.

Human rights groups have expressed concerns that conservative clerics in the country are promoting an agenda that conforms with the ideals of Wahabbism, including the call for the persecution of minority Muslim groups like Shiites and Ahmadiyah members.

In Malaysia, where the visiting Saudi monarch agreed to invest US$7 billion in an oil refinery, the daughter of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, Marina Mohamad, lashed out against what she called Arab colonialism.
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http://linkis.com/thejakartapost.com/fEFnl
 
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Sounds suspiciously vague in the way it describes a lot of the stuff. "Addressing the issue of terrorism" sounds like they're tap-dancing around what that address was. Usually you'd say "denounce" or something. Address includes "sup, terrorism, you still my #1 bro? fuck yeah."
 
Why doesn't he say this shit to ya know, his own country, the breeding ground of terrorism. Btw does he plan on letting women drive or walk alone on the street? Or is that too moderate?
 
We had a large population of strict adherents in the US back in the day, going to church in Latin for four hours, burning your neighbors for witchcraft. No explosive devices but pretty much the same.

Obviously, what is needed over there is to slowly convert the masses into cafeteria kebabs. "Yeah, I don't do the whole praying thing or starve myself, but I still go to the midnight chanting session on Mohammedmass Eve."
 
Oh Long Johnson said:
Obviously, what is needed over there is to slowly convert the masses into cafeteria kebabs. "Yeah, I don't do the whole praying thing or starve myself, but I still go to the midnight chanting session on Mohammedmass Eve."
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Corrupt them with porn, anime and videogames.
 
"What is needed to maintain the stability of global civilization is the moderation of Islam", so even the Saudis admit that Islam is a major threat to global stability. :story:
 
But isn't the king pretty damn elderly? And I thought I remember the heir is super- enthusiastic about extreme Wahabbism?
 
I know it must be difficult for them to change, but I suggest they start with the little things. Instead of chopping off two hands for theft, how about just chopping off one?
 
Lorento said:
Lol they know how the political tide is turning and don't want to face several highly nationalistic governments that won't put up with their shit.
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This! Not only Saudi Arabia has been exposed, along with a number of Islamic nations, as donating to terrorism, their extreme interpretation of Islam allows them to torture and execute scores of people; including other Muslims like Shia Muslims.
 
Headline:

"After Many Years Religion Of Peace Finally Begins To Consider Peace"
 
I don't know if this is common knowledge but the Saudi government is paying for people to get educated in america in an attempt to diversify and create more skilled workers
I meet these dudes occasionally, I think my bf works with one who is an engineer.
So maybe there's some hope for saudi arabia
 
He's too old. This would take a vigorous effort by a much younger man, over a period of generations. This guy just isn't at the level of someone like Kemal Ataturk, and even Ataturk's efforts have crumbled into dust with Turkey's adoption of straight up Islamofascism.
 
I'd take what the king says with a grain of sand. While the country is considered an absolute monarchy, basically he's a puppet for mediation on the international scale. The fatwa police and big business control Saudi Arabia, and couldn't give a shit about reform as long as the oil money keeps flowing.
 
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