Neil McFarquhar reports that in Saudi Arabia the push for reform has gained momentum since the events of September 11, 2001 due to the recognition by Saudi activists and intellectuals that the domestic political and economic conditions within their society have fostered Islamic extremism. However, their efforts at reform have not produced meaningful change because the Islamic theological institutions that control public debate and legitimize the rule of the Saud princes see such changes as a violation of their interpretation of Wahabbi Islam.

The Times report notes that the right most sought after by the reformers is freedom of speech. Despite calls by Western leaders and NGO’s for open elections, Saudi writer and prominent reformist Turki al-Hamad claims that “Sometimes I don’t want elections here, I want public freedoms and public rights…Give me those things and everything else will come automatically.” However, any such changes would have to by endorsed by the ruling Saud family and al-Hamad is pessimistic about the prospects for any such endorsement because McFarquhar notes “…Saudi Arabia’s Islam is based on a certain kind of Islam…If you meddle with that culture, you are meddling with the legitimacy of the system.”

On the other hand, the report says, Saudi princes counter that while its speed may not please some reformers, reform of the system is occurring at a measured pace. They point to the fact that males nationwide were allowed to vote for half the members of the municipal council earlier this year as significant progress. Tarek O. al-Kasabi is the chairman of Riyadh hospital and won a seat on the city council in the recent elections. In referring to recent progress, he claims that as a society “We need to absorb and digest this…even the terminology used in the election is new.” As a result he prefers a smooth transition towards democracy as opposed to a sudden change due to fears that rapid change would risk the backlash of traditionalists opposed to democratic norms. Nevertheless, the Times report notes, Mr.al-Hamad points to the technological forces unleashed by satellite television and the Internet as forces that will expose the next generation to the presence of freedoms in other societies and make them less tolerant of the political restraints imposed upon them.