SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi princes' feud goes public
Arab royalty is famous for its ability to resolve familial disputes in private, but that isn’t the case with Saudi princes Khaled and Al-Waleed bin Talal.
In an act of rare public criticism, Prince Khaled bin Talal openly criticized his billionaire brother for propagating vice, and attempting to change the traditionalist norms of the kingdom. In an interview with an Islamist blog, Prince Khaled said, “the objectives of Prince Al-Waleed and others are to open a wide range of intellectual, religious, and ethical changes.”
He also leveled the charge of violating Shariah, or Islamic law, which makes up the majority of Saudi law.
Prince Al-Waleed is one of the better-known Saudi royals, due to his extensive financial power and his extravagant lifestyle. So extravagant that his 460,000-square-foot palace was featured on VH1.
He is also among the less-conservative Saudi princes and has suggested reforming the legal code to allow modest reforms such as allowing women to drive. This has put him at odds with conservative members of the Saudi royal family, as well as the Saudi clerical establishment.
The feud itself is not a new development. Prince Khaled said that he tried to privately resolve his arguments with his brother over the past decade, but after Prince Al-Waleed’s media companies began to distribute films in Saudi Arabia, it was too much, and he went public online.
Prince Khaled suggested treating Al-Waleed’s immorality by freezing his assets, estimated at $13 billion. After “repentance” from “personal motives,” the assets would be freed. Prince Khaled could be airing his grievances ignored by the rest of the Saudi family, or his criticism may be part of a liberalizing trend—although limited to the Saudi royal family. Prince Khaled’s criticism of his brother comes during a week in which Prince Fahad bin Saad criticized the uneven distribution of wealth in the kingdom.
Mohammed al-Qahtani, a Saudi reformist believes it to be a part of that liberalizing trend. While speaking to the Abu Dhabi-based newspaper the National, al-Qahtani said: “There is a big change in the mindset of the young generation of Saudi princes. They are more critical than the previous generation and they are more open for criticism.”
Others, like Ali al-Mosa take the more traditional line, arguing that the Royal family should be more cohesive in public appearances: “The [royal family] should remain an umbrella [impartial] above all.”
— Jahd Khalil in Beirut
Photo: Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, right, and his wife, Princess Amira al-Tawil, visit the Al-Waleed group-funded resident complex for people affected by a landslide at al-Dhafeer village in Yemen in May. Credit: Yahya Arhab / EPA
well, Obama is only trying to help the already damaged American economy, the broken American glory that bush, cheney and co have broken in the eyes of muslim world..... please stop your critics and support him, after all he is YOUR President
Posted by: Habib | July 08, 2009 at 02:10 PM
What is wrong with being the Jimmy Carter of the Arabic world. From what I remember last the damage inflicted on our economy occured during the CHENEY/Bush years. Obama is trying to salvage a permanently damaged economy. Move beyond your hatred and accept the reality that the GOP have not been good stewards of our country.
Posted by: AL | July 08, 2009 at 01:29 PM
nmoore6676, blah blah blah blah. Is that all you've got? I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing that you're all mad because your party (R) is finally destroying itself from the inside out and you don't wanna play nice any more. Take your ball and go home.
Posted by: Beth | July 08, 2009 at 08:15 AM
Obama can mediate, he understands Sharia Law and wants to bring it here to the USA, after he is through destroying the economy and shredding our constitution. Obama can be the Jimmy Carter to the Arabic world.
Posted by: nmoore6676 | July 08, 2009 at 04:48 AM
This is a petulant's petty feud. It is very obvious that one brother is extemely jealous of the other. There is nothing about it. At least, Prince Walid Bin Talal is his own man. He has no one to answer but to ALLAAH SUBHANA WATA A'ALA. Has anyone bother to examine the violations of SHARIA that continue to take place every in the Arabian peninsula in time immemorial.
Posted by: Johnny Franco Arboine | July 07, 2009 at 09:48 PM
Gee; You mean money don't buy happiness?
Posted by: TerrifiedCitizen | July 07, 2009 at 07:11 PM