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Saudi Plaintiffs Say Their Government Is Violating Islamic Law

By Howard M. Friedman

In Saudi Arabia, two separate lawsuits have recently been filed by Islamic conservatives challenging actions by the Saudi government as being inconsistent with Shariah. Zawya reports today that a member of the public has filed a complaint with the Prosecution and Investigation Commission in Asir province claiming that TV channels and print media affiliated with the Ministry of Culture are advocating the mixing of genders and the unveiling of women, as well as mocking religious symbols. Under a 2005 Royal Decree, the Commission has discretion to accept or reject the complaint.

Meanwhile according to Arab News earlier this week, Sheikh Youssef Al-Ahmad, a lecturer at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, has filed a suit in the Court of Appeals in Riyadh challenging a decision by Noura Al-Faiz, deputy minister of education, to allow female teachers in private girls schools to teach boys in the first three grades. Al-Ahmed says this is forbidden "because this is a realization of the liberal scheme to gradually normalize the mixing of genders in schools."

Full post as published by Religion Clause on June 06, 2010 (boomark / email).