Saudi Scholar's Removal Over KAUST Remarks

I haven't yet posted anything about the recent removal of a senior Saudi religious scholar over his criticism of the new King ‘Abdullah School of Science and Technology (KAUST) and its coeducational programs; the story has been simmering along since late last week (Arabic article with photo here). As the earlier link notes, Sheikh Dr. Sa‘d bin Nasir al-Shathry (or al-Shithry) was removed from the Council of Senior ‘Ulama', the senior religious scholars' body.

The Gulf News article cited above portrays this as a conflict between liberals and traditionalists in the Kingdom; it is doubtless that, in part, but more to the point the Sheikh may have been perceived as being critical of a pet project of the King's. It's the King ‘Abdullah University of Science and Technology, after all. As I noted in my post on the inauguration of KAUST, the coeducational aspect is actually being emphasized as an innovation, even though only 15% of the students are female.

King ‘Abdullah's approach to reform is typical of the Saudis generally: slow and cautious, but nevertheless, there is movement. Shathry's remarks obviously did not sit well with the authorities.