Three separate petitions represent a small but growing slice of Saudi public that is discontent with an absolute monarchy.
Saudi children celebrate as they greet the convoy transporting King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz upon his arrival in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Feb. 23, 2011. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images)
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Since his return to Saudi Arabia last week, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz has been peppered with petitions demanding that the royal family share power with representative, elected bodies and move toward greater transparency in fiscal matters.
Three separate petitions, whose signers have included moderate Islamists and secular-oriented liberals, differ in details but their general thrust is toward a constitutional monarchy and away from the absolute control now exercised by the ruling House of Saud over all aspects of life in the kingdom.
The petitions come as other, unknown groups have posted calls on Facebook for street protests in Saudi Arabia on three different days (March 4, 11 and 20) to press for changes similar to ones listed in the petitions.
It is impossible to know if such protests will materialize. But it does not appear likely for several reasons. Such demonstrations are illegal in the kingdom, and Saudi culture is strongly against public displays of civil disobedience.
In addition, there is no evidence that the petitions or the protest calls have widespread national support. Rather, they appear to be most representative of a growing slice of Saudi society that is politically restive but not yet organized for mass action.
It is evident, however, that both the Facebook groups and petitions were inspired by the popular uprisings that have leap-frogged across the Arab world in recent weeks, toppling long-time leaders in Egypt and Tunisia, and threatening the rule of several others.
As one of the petitions noted: “It is no secret that the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions have raised tensions and political movements in many neighboring Arab nations [which requires] us to review our situation, and to make every effort towards reforms before the matter escalates and we find ourselves in front of unpredictable developments that cannot be stopped.”
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Saudi children celebrate as they greet the convoy transporting King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz upon his arrival in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Feb. 23, 2011. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images)
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Since his return to Saudi Arabia last week, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz has been peppered with petitions demanding that the royal family share power with representative, elected bodies and move toward greater transparency in fiscal matters.
Three separate petitions, whose signers have included moderate Islamists and secular-oriented liberals, differ in details but their general thrust is toward a constitutional monarchy and away from the absolute control now exercised by the ruling House of Saud over all aspects of life in the kingdom.
The petitions come as other, unknown groups have posted calls on Facebook for street protests in Saudi Arabia on three different days (March 4, 11 and 20) to press for changes similar to ones listed in the petitions.
It is impossible to know if such protests will materialize. But it does not appear likely for several reasons. Such demonstrations are illegal in the kingdom, and Saudi culture is strongly against public displays of civil disobedience.
In addition, there is no evidence that the petitions or the protest calls have widespread national support. Rather, they appear to be most representative of a growing slice of Saudi society that is politically restive but not yet organized for mass action.
It is evident, however, that both the Facebook groups and petitions were inspired by the popular uprisings that have leap-frogged across the Arab world in recent weeks, toppling long-time leaders in Egypt and Tunisia, and threatening the rule of several others.
As one of the petitions noted: “It is no secret that the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions have raised tensions and political movements in many neighboring Arab nations [which requires] us to review our situation, and to make every effort towards reforms before the matter escalates and we find ourselves in front of unpredictable developments that cannot be stopped.”
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