2023-06-16 23:43:45
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are pressuring European nations to restore diplomatic ties, Bloomberg reports. with the Syria and ease the economic sanctions imposed on the war-torn country.
These efforts, diplomats say, have been undertaken at different levels over several months, with a particular focus on lifting sanctions as it would be futile to try to end the 12-year conflict without easing the burden on the shoulders of the struggling Syrian economy. Gulf state officials also say an improved economic situation could allow for the return of millions of Syrian refugees, thereby easing pressure on countries in the region that are grappling with refugee crises, such as Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.
Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, after years of supporting extremist groups who have tried to depose President Bashar al-Assad, have recently strengthened ties with Damascus, drawing criticism from the West. Bloomberg’s report comes just as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is visiting France, where he met with President Emmanuel Macron to discuss relations between Paris and Riyadh and the conflict in the Middle East.
Vision 2030 and reformed Islam
The difference is that some know how to finish, others have torn off the last page. This may be why the Saudi crown prince is in Paris to launch his “Vision 2030” project with which Ryyad will work to transform Saudi Arabia into a regional financial power, drastically reducing its dependence on oil revenues.
According to reported by AsiaNews, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced his intention to reform Islam. He argues that Islamic laws should be applied moderately and that Islam itself should undergo a reform, through a re-examination of the basis of religious legislation. If revised, Islamic laws such as stoning, flogging, amputation of hands for thieves and the death penalty for apostates and homosexuals will be abolished.
The prince’s stance represents a significant shift in ideology, relying on direct interpretation of the Quran and hadith, and rejecting the various schools of ulema that have defined Wahhabi Islamic thought. In presenting his position, the prince cited Muslim intellectuals such as Mohammed Arkun, Mohammed Shahrour, Faraj Fuda and others, many of whom have been imprisoned for advocating a modern view of Islam or trying to break away from Wahhabism.
It will also be for this reason that following the diplomatic activity of Mosca e you Teheran the return of Damasus to the Arab League was able to materialize first and, then, even the diplomatic activity of the prince in Europe in favor of Syria.
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