Saudi Arabia faces a storm of criticism from Muslim clerics who have denounced supporters of America's military strikes on Afghanistan as “unbelievers,” the Jordan Times reported Thursday.
Analysts expect the situation to heat up more and more in the region and develop into “a confrontation between the authorities and Muslim fundamentalists, a collision that might destabilize Washington's strategic Arab ally,” said the paper.
Mai Yamani, a fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, was quoted by the Amman-based paper as saying that "there are big frustrations building up in Saudi Arabia...We have a radical dissent that is voiced in an Islamic language.
"At the moment, what is dangerous about the situation is that it is totally unpredictable," she added.
A Saudi sociologist in Riyadh said the bombing of targets in Afghanistan was uniting Saudis in their disapproval of their own government's support for America, yet he did not anticipate dramatic or violent acts.
"There is a growing discontent against the government by both liberals and Islamists, but I don't think it is about to erupt in an outpouring of anger. However, it is very hard to tell," the sociologist said.
Riyadh has pledged strong support for Washington's "war on terrorism" following last month's suicide attacks on New York and Washington that killed thousands, but it has voiced concern over the loss of civilian lives in Afghanistan – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
