News, December 2003, www.aljazeerah.info
Human Price of the Israeli Occupation of Palestine
Israeli daily aggression on the Palestinian people
Mission and meaning of Al-Jazeerah
Cities, localities, and tourist attractions
|
Saudis mount 2nd round of 'dialogue,' include 10 women
Jordan Times, Monday, December 29, 2003
RIYADH (AFP) — Some 60 Muslim clerics and intellectuals, including 10 women academics, launched overnight Saturday-Sunday a second round of Saudi Arabia's "Convention for National Dialogue," newspapers said. Some 15 researchers in various fields were also participating in the five-day gathering, which will be held under the theme: "Extremism and moderation, a comprehensive view."
Faisal Abderrahman Al Muammar, secretary general of the the King Abdul Aziz Centre for National Dialogue told Mecca daily Al Youm that "the debates will take place behind closed doors."
The opening and closing sessions were however to be open.
"It's a new experience, which may succeed or fail," he explained. The contribution of the women to the dialogue would cover issues related to the family, schools and how to shelter children from extremist views and would be provided by viedo-conferencing links, newspapers said.
The gathering is a follow-up on a landmark meeting held in Riyadh in June, which ended with a call for wide-ranging reforms in the conservative kingdom and led to the establishment of the dialogue centre. Saudi authorities, who stand accused in Western quarters of running a system that fosters extremism, have launched a massive crackdown on militants blamed for a series of suicide bombings in Riyadh in May and November that left more than 50 people dead. They have also been engaged in an offensive against what they call the "deviant" thinking of extremists who practice violence under an Islamic banner. At the same time, Saudi leaders have begun heeding calls from liberals for political reforms, promising in October to organise the first ever polls within a year to elect half the members of new municipal councils.
Semi-official reports have since said polls will be held within three years to fill one-third of the 120 seats of the appointed Shura (Consultative) Council, and that half the members of regional councils will be elected within two years.
The first Convention for National Dialogue, called by crown prince and de facto ruler, Abdullah Ben Abdul Aziz, urged widening of political participation, more judicial independence and fair distribution of wealth, among many other things.
The unprecedented meeting for the first time brought members of the Sunni majority face to face with their Shiite and Ismaili counterparts.
 |
| Earth, a planet hungry for peace |
 |
| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03). |
 |
| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python (Alquds, 1/25/03. |
 |