(Weekly Standard) Stephen Schwartz - On March 12, three democratic reform leaders went on trial in the Saudi kingdom: Dr. Abdullah Al-Hamed, Dr. Matrook Al-Faleh, and the poet Ali Al-Domaini were arrested on March 16, 2004, for demanding adoption of a constitution by the Saudi monarchy. The kingdom continues to maintain the ultra-radical Wahhabi sect of Islam as the state religion. Wahhabism is more an ideology than a faith, and is the inspiration for al-Qaeda and much of the terrorism launched against U.S., coalition, and Iraqi democratic forces. The kingdom is the only Muslim country in the world which forbids non-Muslims to practice their faith. It is the largest absolutist monarchy in the world.
2005-03-17 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive