Saudi clerics, thinkers debating extremism, moderation

By: Abdulali

HOLY CITY OF MECCA, Saudi Arabia: Some 75 Saudi intellectuals, clerics and researchers are holding talks in a second session of the “Convention for National Dialogue” opened in the holy city of Mecca on Saturday.

The gathering under the theme “Extremism and moderation, a comprehensive view” is a follow-up on a similar landmark meeting held in Riyadh in June, which ended with a call for wide-ranging reforms in the conservative kingdom.

The unprecedented five-day meeting for the first time brought Wahhabi members of the population face to face with their Shiite and Ismaili counterparts.

END