Saudi Arabia not a theocracy, says Prince Talal

By: Abdulali

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz, the half-brother of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, has said Saudi Arabia is not a religious state despite being ruled by Islamic law.

In an interview published Monday, the Saudi prince told a London-based online Arabic newspaper: “Saudi Arabia is not a theocracy despite applying Islamic law.”

He said the government is trying to strike a balance between liberals and conservatives in its drive for reform.

“Conservatives should take into consideration that the kingdom is a signatory to international treaties that should be respected,” he said insisting that both the Saudi people and the government wanted reform.

“The two parties want reform but we should not forget that there is a struggle between conservatives and liberals. The ruler tries to maintain a balance between the conflicting sides. Conservatives however hold an important card, as the kingdom was established on the basis of Islamic law,” prince Talal said.

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