“Defense Minister Prince Salman recently launched an academic chair for historical studies at King Saud University in Riyadh during a ceremony attended by intellectuals and academics in this particular field. Following a seminar organized by Dr. Noura Al-Asheikh, dean of the College of Arts and Community Service, Princess Hussa bint Salman spoke about her father and his penchant for history. Dr. Dalal bint Mukhallad Al-Harbi is one who received support to publish her book titled ‘Famous Women from Najd,’ which was published by King Abdul Aziz Foundation for Research and Archives in 1998, on the occasion of the Kingdom’s centenary.” Princess Hussa said Prince Salman’s thoughts were not at all isolated from contemporary cultural and intellectual movements………..”

Nope, the prince’s thoughts are not at all isolated from contemporary cultural and intellectual movements. Nor are the thoughts of the Grand Muftis Al at all isolated from contemporary cultural and intellectual movements. In fact there are unsubstantiated and non-credible reports that the old cleric was at one point an existentialist, hanging around Les Deux Magots in the old days with Sartre and de Beauvoir. Occasionally dabbling in Hegelian thoughts, holding court over coffee and rich buttery croissants, ogling les jeunes filles……
Those were the days.

(FYI: Dr. Noura Al-Asheikh and the Mufti Al Al Shaikh, and that other Minister Al Al Shaikh, among other potentates, are descendants of Shaikh Mohammed Bin Abdulwahhab. He was the founder of the Wahhabi sect and a close ally of the al-Saud. No relation to Mohammed Abdelwahab, the late great Egyptian musician and singer who was never a Salafi.)

Cheers
mhg


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