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| Arabia |
| Saudis bid to form 1st political party |
| 2011-02-12 |
| [Iran Press TV] Nine activists in Soddy Arabia have announced the formation of the first political party in the country, amid ongoing revolutions and pro-democracy protests in other Arab countries. The move comes despite the kingdom's ban on forming political parties. The founders of the "Islamic Umma Party" have conveyed a statement to King Abdullah asking him to recognize the group, AFP reported on Thursday. If you have to ask then you're not free. "It is not hidden from you that the Islamic world has seen great political developments and the strengthening of freedoms and human rights, ... which are not the same thing as individual rights, mind you... which Islam already approves ... It is now time for the kingdom to keep pace with this development and contribute to it," a copy of the letter published on the their website reads. "We have established the Islamic Umma Party to contribute to forwarding the peaceful political reform movement, to which all the people look forward," the statement adds. The nine founders, who are lawyers, businessmen, professors and political activists, believe in "freedom," "political pluralism, and the peaceful transfer of power, and the right of the (Islamic) nation to choose its governments," it says. Sheikh Mohammed al-Qahtani, a founder of the party, says the formation of the party "was a natural response to the development of the political situation in the region and the development of political action in the kingdom." "The time has come to approve political rights and launch general freedoms, especially to approve the right of the people to elect the Shura Council and the creation of legislation to govern all these political rights," Qahtani added. Soddy Arabia does not have a parliament. Instead, it has a consultative Shura Council, which is totally an appointed body, aimed at providing the king with consultations on policies, laws, and other matters. The initiative for founding the Islamic Umma Party is taken as Pro-democracy movements have been spreading across Arab countries in recent weeks. Last month in Tunisia, nationwide outrage at the government's suppressive policies sparked a revolution, ending the 23-year-long rule of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and forcing him to flee to Soddy Arabia. Egypt has been rocked by millions-strong nationwide revolution against beleaguered geriatric President Hosni Mubarak since January 25. The protesters want Mubarak to step down. Other pro-democracy uprisings have also been taking place in Yemen, Algeria and Jordan and more Arab countries are expected to witness similar popular revolts. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Abdullah might consider it, as long as it is done in a polite, and most importantly, a conservative manner. More than anything else, the Saudis are firm believers in very relaxed gradualism. Stuffy wins the day. It was hilarious when they had their first experiment with representative democracy a while back. Abdullah thought he was being dangerously cutting edge and trendy when he permitted some seats in what was the equivalent of a minor planning and zoning board to be put up for a popular vote. Terrified that it could cause a revolution, both the police and military were on high alert. But the vote itself was dull as dishwater, unimpressive turn out, and if anything, the public selected candidates that were just a *tad* more conservative than those who had previously held those seats. Abdullah was thrilled. He had risked and won. This democracy stuff is entertaining. I must try this again some time when I'm feeling daring again. Not too much, of course. Wouldn't be prudent. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-02-12 09:37 |