The recent speech by Prince Abdullah, the regent, at the inauguration of the annual session of the consultative Shoura Council was thought-provoking. It has prompted me to speak out on what would be beneficial to the country and its people with the hope that it will be heard by the authorities and appropriate action taken.
First a question: Why are the Shoura sessions which are held twice a week not recorded for later broadcast? This leads to several other questions but first, let us discuss the topic objectively, taking into account the interest of the country and its people.
Televising the Shoura sessions would give the public an opportunity to follow the discussions by the council which drafts new rules and regulations and makes changes in old ones and to give their opinions. This would allow a large number of people to take part in the decision-making process.
There can only be so many members in any council of deputies. In our Shoura, there are 120. With all due respect to their educational qualifications, keen minds and vast experience, we cannot deny that there are bound to be many things which are beyond their knowledge and experience. Our Shoura members are carefully chosen and known for their devotion to the country. But they do not represent the different classes of our society which includes academicians, highly qualified persons, professionals and elderly people with special needs.
In a country with a population of more than 20 million, every citizen deserves to feel his or her importance and those at the helm of affairs should not ignore them. No nation can progress through the efforts of a single group without the participation of others. Every member of society has his or her rights and requirements. Since it is obvious that all members of society cannot be a part of the council, the least we can do is to allow them to follow what is going on in the Shoura Council and give their opinions. This will provide them with a feeling of participation and responsibility and increase their cultural awareness in its best sense.
Further, this link between officials and citizens will not only reduce criticism but also scale down attacks which officials often face when they enact new laws and regulations or change old ways of doing things. Moreover, it would provide an opportunity for hearing other opinions and deal with them in a civilized way despite the degree of difference. If we expect to hear and see only those views which agree with ours, then what is the use of discussions and lectures? Or indeed, what is the use of an article such as this?
Frankly, I have tried to understand the reasons for keeping the Shoura meetings secret but I have not discovered a convincing one. At the same time, I cannot evaluate whether there is any real public interest in holding the sessions in secret.
I believe that it is sheer injustice to a great personality such as the late Muhammad ibn Jubair, who was an authority in Shariah law and who held the Shoura’s presidency for eight years running, that we did not get an opportunity to see him judiciously managing the council. It is unfortunate that we heard of his qualities and knowledge, his ability to manage the sessions and his wisdom only after his death. If the sessions had been televised, it would have given us an opportunity to boast that we had a Shoura president who was equal to his counterparts anywhere in the world.
I stress here the importance of televising the recorded Shoura sessions — after editing what has to be edited — because doing so would enable the public to see what concerns them the most. In my opinion, there are many reasons not to televise the sessions live. (That is easily a topic for another article.) If televised, the Shoura sessions should not be exploited for personal motives at the expense of public interest.
We are a great nation such as many others. Being a country which is ruled in accordance with Shariah, televising the sessions would show the world that the secret of the Kingdom’s power and security lies in its total adherence to the teachings of Shariah. Our Shoura Council could surely impress the world by making itself a means for interaction between officials and citizens. I still wonder whether there is any legitimate reason for keeping all Shoura Council discussions a secret.
