Saudi Arabia is going ahead with its reform program, Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom Prince Turki Al-Faisal has said. He added that the government had introduced a number of political, economic, educational and judicial reforms in recent years and had given equal opportunity to women to take part in the country's development. Addressing a Paris-based foreign policy group comprising European and American politicians and researchers, Prince Turki defended the ideology of Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab, saying the Saudi scholar had opposed extremism and called for the protection of women. "The main reasons for misunderstanding the sheikh's message are ignorance and political conflicts. Most of his critics, especially those in the West, have not read his books and are unaware of Islamic and Arab culture. They mix Islam and culture and mix the ideas of Ibn Abdul Wahab with those of his so-called followers," the Saudi Press Agency quoted Prince Turki as saying.During his speech at Le Cercle, a think-tank for international affairs chaired by former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Lamont of Lerwick, the ambassador said that Islam encouraged its followers to live peacefully with other communities. "Peaceful coexistence must be based on dialogue," he added. He quoted a verse from the Holy Qur'an that urges Muslims to invite others to Islam in a wise and diplomatic manner. "Reform is part and parcel of the Saudi government policy. We have introduced the consultative Shoura system and reached out to all sections of society to make our reform program successful," the ambassador explained.