Soundbites from Harvard *live* سلطان سعود القاسمي سلطان سعود القاسمي ‏@SultanAlQassemi - @HamzawyAmr at @HarvardArabWknd: two ways for change in Saudi, look for existing entry points such as reformers or to mobilise the masses the ruling structure of Saudi consists of two sides the royal family and the Wahhabi establishment we are seeing a policy of sustaining autocracies in Morocco, Jordan and different Gulf States The international environment is conducive to autocracies in the Gulf in the region there are radical conservatives trying to implement their demands, eating away at women's rights What we are witnessing in the Mideast should not be reduced to a narrative of democratisation only. The Islamists are on a quest for "absolute truth". | In Europe there are integrated Christian parties I am not sure what the Islamists are looking for. If you read, it is unclear. #Egypt the political narrative in Egypt is as though Islam was not the dominant religion for a long time Religion was misused and instrumentalised in Egypt. Political debates in Egypt are about identity and not about challenging policies. At the @harvardarabwknd systematic human rights violations took place in Egypt from 1954 (the year Nasser took over) to 2011 Saudi: New Fatwa from Chief Mufti Fatwa bans speaking to foreign press & satellite channels http://goo.gl/1oEQk you can follow it here https://twitter.com/SultanAlQassemi
