Yet Saudi women are still not allowed to drive, citizens are unable to vote except in municipal elections and public beheading by sword remains a standard feature of the judicial system.
Political parties are banned. He is 79, so there is bound to be uncertainty about his rule. In recent months, Salman has begun to play a more active role and has represented the country at important meetings abroad. He also serves as deputy prime minister and defence minister. Salman served as the governor of Riyadh province for years and enjoys a reputation for good governance.
He acted as the family enforcer, discreetly settling problems with some of the thousands of royals who live in the capital. He was also active in collecting funds to support the mujahideen who were encouraged to fight the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the s — Osama bin Laden was the most famous of them — and he worked closely with the Wahhabi clerical establishment. If Muqrin does come to the throne, he is likely to be the last of the sons of the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud , who died in Israeli President Reuven Rivlin praised Abdullah's "grounded, considered and responsible leadership", while Iran offered Saudi Arabia its condolences and said its foreign minister would travel to Riyadh for an "official ceremony" on Saturday.
King Abdullah was the 13th of the 45 sons of King Abdulaziz. He is believed to have been born in August in Riyadh, although there is some dispute about his actual birth date.
When he came to the throne in he succeeded another half-brother, Fahd. However, he had already been Saudi Arabia's de-facto leader for 10 years because his predecessor had been debilitated by a stroke. In recent months Abdullah's age and failing health had led to increasing focus on the issue of the Saudi royal succession. The crown has traditionally passed between Ibn Saud's sons, but few are still alive.
King Salman's appointment of Mohammed bin Nayef - a grandson of Ibn Saud - as deputy crown prince effectively smoothes the line of succession for years to come.
Correspondents say Abdullah was seen as a reformer at home, albeit a slow and steady one. He allowed mild criticism of his government in the press, and hinted that more women should be allowed to work. King Salman spent 48 years as governor of Riyadh Province before becoming crown prince and defence minister.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says it is thought unlikely that he will embark on any great changes. In a recent meeting with the BBC in Jeddah, he appeared alert and well-briefed but walked with the aid of a stick, our correspondent adds. Profile: King Salman. Succession tussle. Obituary: King Abdullah.
Saudi Arabia's hidden uprising. Saudi Arabia profile. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
The king's body was wrapped in a shroud at his funeral. In the decades before he became the ruler of the nation, he held a variety of political posts, eventually becoming first deputy prime minister in He officially became king in However, his ascension to the throne was preceded by a nearly decade-long tenure as de facto leader due to his half-brother King Fahd's inability to rule after suffering a stroke in As leader of one of the world's top oil exporters and of an ultraconservative Sunni Muslim nation, the Saudi king used his money and influence to form a stronger alliance with Washington in the face of power grappling in the Middle East and Central Asia.
He also used Saudi Arabia's oil wealth to fund mosques around the world, many of which have been found to promote extreme views. Bush - even though 15 0f the 19 hijackers were Saudis. Saudi Arabia subsequently led a campaign against al-Qaeda in when the terrorist organization attempted to weaken the kingdom.
The militants fled after a three-year battle against Saudi forces, moving south into Yemen, where they formed a new stronghold. Saudi Arabia's backing of the Syrian opposition has drawn criticism in recent years, on the grounds that it allegedly funded terrorist organizations.
Critics point to Saudi Arabia's dismal record on human rights , particularly regarding women. But the late ruler did promote an expansion of women's rights to education and participation in politics. In , he launched the country's first co-ed university. He also advocated the appointment of women to serve on the Shura Council, which advises the government on new laws.
Despite these signs of progress, the king, like other regional monarchs, opposed the Arab Spring.
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