RIYADH,
June 21 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - A landmark meeting between Saudi
scholars and thinkers has called for greater political participation and freedom
of expression in the conservative kingdom.
The
Convention for National Dialogue rejected religious extremism, stressed the
importance of dialogue for coexistence as well as diversity of opinion and urged
resolution of pressing problems, the official Saudi Press Agency reported
Saturday, June 21.
More
than 50 Muslim scholars and intellectuals, representing the kingdom's various
shades of the Sunni majority, in addition to Shiites, Ismailis and some liberals
and technocrats, participated in the four-day meeting.
The
gathering, unprecedented in the 71-year history of Saudi Arabia, for the first
time brought Sunnis face to face with their Shiite and Ismaili counterparts in a
kingdom dominated by the strict Wahhabi Sunni school.
They
discussed religious extremism, diversity of opinion, rights and duties of women
and their role in society, freedom of expression and contemporary fatwas, or
religious edicts, and the impact of these issues on national unity.
The
meeting also took up issues like the importance of common interests with other
countries, dealing with non-Muslims from an Islamic perspective and rules
governing jihad, or holy war.
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The
Saudi regime showed some understanding and flexibility in dealing with these
calls and even embracing them. But this is going along with strict security
measures and continuous arrests.
Participants
met late Friday with Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the kingdom's de
facto ruler, who called for the talks, and handed him the recommendations.
They
urged such meetings in the future to include other sections of society and for a
permanent center for national dialogue to be set up.
One
recommendation called for "solving issues, problems, unfair practices and
traditions contrary to Islam, which face women in contemporary times ... and for
expanding their participation," in society.
"Continuing
the reform process in all its aspects and expanding popular participation
strengthen national unity and loyalty," one of the recommendations said.
The
meeting also discussed the role of contemporary fatwas, or religious edicts, and
the need that this issue be entrusted to capable religious thinkers.
The
group defined jihad, or holy war, and said that a Muslim ruler alone can declare
Jihad, not individuals.
Abdullah
said in a message to the meeting that safeguarding the country and citizens
against "harmful ideas" by bans or blocks was no longer possible in
today's hi-tech world.
"I
believe you all agree with me that the most efficient means to achieve this is
through ... quiet dialogue that respects the other opinion and allows for free
exchange of views," he said.
Last
month, King Fahd pledged that political and social reforms will go ahead and
promised to expand popular participation and open more areas for female
employment.
In
January, more than 100 Saudi intellectuals submitted a petition to Prince
Abdullah, calling for political and social reform.
