Tomorrow: Constitutional Speech by King Abdullah
The local English daily Arabnews
is reporting that King Abdullah will be addressing the Saudi Shura Council tomorrow. John
Burgess brings the attention to recent speculations of a major policy
announcement: "Over the past couple of months, the rumor mill has been
running at full speed about the pending announcement of major changes in Saudi
law and governance."
RIYADH, 13 April 2007 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah will
deliver a speech at the Shoura Council tomorrow in which he is expected to
mention the Kingdom’s internal and external strategies for the coming year.
The
President of the Shoura Council Sheikh Saleh Bin-Humaid described the speech to
be “constitutional.” He added that it in addition to it reflecting the Kingdom’s
strategies, it would also touch on new developments in the Kingdom over the
past year.
Just 11 days ago, members of the constitutional reform movement in Saudi Arabia(دعاة الإصلاح المدني و الدستوري) sent the king their latest petition which outlines their reform vision and detailed proposals, معالم في طريق الملكية الدستورية/ دولة الدستور الإسلامي/ دولة العدل والشور (Arabic). Some of this petition's framers and signatories were arbitrarily arrested in February based on mostly contested and fabricated accusations. King Abdullah has on certain occasions met with some of the reformists and promised them change. So let's wait and see.
Update:
Text of
King Abdullah’s speech (Arabic)
John
Burgess’s follow up post about the speech
Dear Aya,
looks like it didn't quite happen: http://xrdarabia.org/blog/archives/2007/04/14/king-abdullahs-address/
Too bad.
--MSK
Posted by: MSK | April 16, 2007 at 05:42 PM
What was the outcome finally?
Posted by: Crispal | April 17, 2007 at 09:54 AM
Empty promises as usual. I am too upset to comment on the speech itself. I guess I was too enthusiastic and quite dreamy. Back to reality.
Posted by: Aya | April 17, 2007 at 09:42 PM