JEDDAH, 8 May — Islamic scholars still play a key role in Saudi Arabia, Interior Minister Prince Naif said in an interview published yesterday.
"This country has well-established principles which will never change... The first is adhering to Islam and secondly revering and respecting religious scholars and clerics," he told Al-Riyadh Arabic daily.
Speaking in Geneva, where he is convalescing after a successful knee surgery, the prince said: "Thank God, we are Muslims and a faithful people. They insist that this state remains Islamic, Saudi and Arab."
Prince Naif was responding to reports that the Kingdom was adopting more liberal policies after recently merging the Presidency of Girls’ Education with the Education Ministry, which previously managed only boys’ education.
The merger, ordered by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd in March, came after 15 girl students died in a stampede at a school in Makkah for which the presidency was blamed.
Prince Naif was admitted to a Geneva hospital in mid-March for unspecified knee problems.
The prince left the hospital last Wednesday after surgery on both knees and having undergone the necessary post-operation care.
Asked if the government was no longer listening to religious scholars, Prince Naif said: "This is totally untrue."
"Religious scholars still enjoy their revered status and they remain the first reference for legislation and consultation," he added.
He said the merger was an administrative step and that the Kingdom will never issue legislation contravening Islamic law.
Prince Naif, 68, was appointed interior minister in 1975.
He also heads several governmental bodies including the Higher Information Council, Higher Haj Commission and the Manpower Council.
