Tradition is Changing in Saudi Arabia

A decision recently was made in Saudi Arabia which allowed a simple return of films after a nearly 30 year break. This is considered as a gesture that could ultimately make the traditional kingdom rulers consider more bolder and active reforms.

A comedy film which was produced locally had premiered in some cultural centers which had audiences of both male and female. Previously gender mixing was considered a taboo and the strict religious rules were preventing unrelated women and men from gathering together in Saudi Arabia.

The screening of the film was an indication of the progress in Saudi culture that is made by the absolute monarchy of the kingdom in refraining the wrong influence of the religious organization which is the main obstruction to reforms, analysts say.

According to Khaled Al Dakhil who is a professor in political sociology at the University of King Saud, considers this as the corrosion of the religious organizations influence and they'd realized to give up. He also adds that it is an enormous step in Saudi culture and for the Society of Saudi as a whole.

A senior diplomat of the western provinces says that the Saudi authorities now admit that the power of Sunni Muslim officials have now declined and that gives officials some room to relax their limitations. According to the diplomat this could be encouraging the ordinary people of Saudi Arabia to get some relaxation in the monarchy and experiences beyond the limitations.

Saudi Arabia is the largest and most populated state welfare and it has the lowest per capita gross domestic product among its neighbors and most of its citizens share only a little wealth of the ruling officials.

Public screening of movies in the kingdom was banned since 1979 in Saudi culture. The clerics charge the ruling officials for allowing people to lead the Western ways of living during 1970s when the oil boom happened.

Massive Step

The government has been fighting against the monarchy since 2003, and is continuing against the clerics. There is a big U-turn in the movies issue. The head of the morality police who was the second highest ranked kingdom's cleric initially, discarded the plan of screening the movies but he backtracked one day later.

It was believed that this change was made after getting a call from a senior royal. Analysts say that the monarchy would be unwilling to marginalize clerics favor of reform agendas and that will be more difficult to achieve.

The population of Saudi Arabia is getting aware of the happenings around the world because of the Internet and television and this has made the protest against clerics on cultural regards easier. To be frank, this reform regarding the movies screening alone is not enough. Many such reforms have to be done including distribution of wealth, political and public freedoms and saving the youth from getting trapped in religious militants. The government royals are under pressure to create more number of legislative and representative entities. The monarchs on the other hand are trying to tighten the religious belt further in the Saudi culture.

Khalid Al-Dakhil, On Faith: Muslims Speak Out Blog, Muslims Speak Out