JEDDAH, 2 August 2005 — Saudi thinkers and writers have expressed their deep grief for the death of King Fahd. Professor Abdullah Al-Gothami, famous Saudi literary critic, considered King Fahd as a symbol of a very significant era of Saudis’ lives. Fahd’s name, as Al-Gothami stated, was synonymous with the educational movement in the Kingdom, ever since he was appointed minister of education.

“The contemporary generation does not recall anything that is not connected with King Fahd, as they grew up under his rule for the past 24 years. He stood as a national figure for our country, especially during his encounter with the difficult times of the Gulf War,” Al-Gothami said. “With his death we say farewell to a very vital time in our lives. We all pray for him and ask mercy for his soul.”

Abdo Khal a Saudi novelist and a columnist said that King Fahd was able to keep his country at the center of the attention both in the Arab and international world. “Every international decision that relates to the area has to pass through Riyadh. To mention few: The Taif conference for Lebanese parties during the Lebanese civil war; the resolution of Eritrea conflict with Sudan and most recently the lifting of economic sanctions on Libya.”

Khal also listed the king’s achievements locally including the reactivating of Shoura Council that existed in the time of King Abdul Aziz but lay dormant until King Fahd. He also gave women part of their rights that society denied them and initiated and oversaw the expansion of the Two Holy Mosques.

Turki Al-Dakhail, general supervisor of Alarabiya website and producer and presenter of the “Eda’at” show at the TV channel said that history will surely confirm King Fahd as a great leader.

Al-Dakhail added that there are major events we should consider in evaluating Fahd’s reign.

“In 24 years the area saw four major wars. Only a man with vision and wisdom, as Fahd was, could provide safety and security to his country.”

The political scene in the Kingdom is not going to face any dramatic changes Al-Dakhail commented. “A very important aspect of the Saudi politics is its stability; it’s part of the Saudi social characteristic.”

Qenan Al-Ghamdi, a Saudi columnist agreed with Al-Dakhail in the solidity of the Saudi system. “It is reassuring in Saudi Arabia that the authority is moving automatically and smoothly from one great person to another,” he said. “King Fahd was a great character. He achieved much that will be landmarks to King Abdullah. May God guard his way to continue the path that King Fahd started on.”

“Although King Fahd health condition was not good,” said Turki Al-Hamad Saudi novelist and columnist, ‘still there is deep feeling of pain.”

Al-Hamad explained that King Fahd’s reign was a period of modernization, but King Abdullah’s time will be a reforming one. He attributed the reason for this to, “The current influences that dictate the broad form of the period.”

All the Saudi writers pointed to the massive vacuum that King Fahd left in the hearts and minds of Saudis.