Saudi Crown Prince Sultan dies, Prince Naif named Crown Prince Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense and Aviation, died on October 22, 2011 outside the Kingdom following a prolonged illness. He was 80. His body was flown from New York to Riyadh for burial. The Royal Court’s announcement commended Prince Sultan’s contributions toward ensuring the progress and prosperity Prince Sultan of the Kingdom. Prince Sultan, a half brother of King Abdullah, served as Saudi Arabia’s defense minister for nearly five decades. A humanitarian, Prince Sultan (may Allah bless him with mercy and forgiveness) was a great Muslim leader and worked for the success of Arab and Muslim causes. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in a statement, expressed deep sorrow over the demise of “one of the great sagacious leaders of the Islamic Ummah, who had devoted his generosity-marked life in the service of his
nation and the Islamic Ummah.” Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah together with a large number of Saudi royals, heads of state and high-ranking officials from around the world including the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu bade farewell to the late Crown Prince Sultan on October 25 in Riyadh. King Abdullah performed funeral prayers with the mourners at Prince Naif the jammed Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque and then the body of the Crown Prince was buried at the Al-Oud Cemetery. King Abdullah issued a decree on October 27 naming Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, 78, as Crown Prince. Prince Naif was also appointed Deputy Prime Minister and retained his previous position as Interior Minister. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu sent a cable of congratulations to HRH Prince Naif on this occasion.
Saudi King grants women political participation Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The King of Saudi Arabia announced on September 25, 2011 that women would be given the right to vote and stand in elections. In his fiveminute speech to the Shura Council aired on state television, King Abdullah said women would be permitted join the unelected advisory Shura Council, which vets legislation although it has no binding powers. “Because we refuse to marginalize women in society in all roles that comply with sharia (Islamic law), we have decided, after deliberation with our senior ulama (clerics) and others... to involve women in the Shura Council as members, starting from the next term,” he said. He also granted women the right to vote and run in the next municipal elections. “Women will be able to run as candidates in the municipal election and will even have a right to vote.” The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu commended the historical decisions announced by the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, which opened the door for Saudi women’s political participation. The Secretary General stated that the OIC highly praised the bold decisions taken within the framework of reform and modernization process led by the Custodian of the Two Holly Mosques since assuming leadership of Saudi Arabia. The Secretary General recalled, in this regard, King Abdullah’s pivotal role in the Extraordinary Summit held in Mecca in 2005, which adopted the Ten Year Program of Action that calls for reform and modernization in the Muslim world, and which emphasizes “reinforcing laws that aim to the advancement of women in Muslim society in the economic, cultural, social and political fields, and to provide them protection against all forms of violence and discrimination”.
Bahrain King pledges reform after the release of fact-finding commission report
Manama, Bahrain – King Hamad of Bahrain pledged reforms on November 23, 2011 after a commission of inquiry submitted its report to him. Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu welcomed the statement delivered by His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa following the release of the final report of the fact-finding commission on the regrettable events witnessed in the country in February and March 2011. The King’s
statement reflected a distinct determination to strengthen reform process and human rights in Bahrain. The Secretary General praised the decision of the Monarch to constitute a government work group to study the recommendations and outcomes contained in the report in order to set the stage for implementing the reforms as well as for reconciliation and dialogue. The Secretary General also expressed the hope that demands for reform and participation of the Bahraini people would be met. 27