| Saudi Arabia is not a religious state, despite being ruled by Islamic law, and the government is trying to strike a balance between liberals and Islamists in its drive for reform, Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz, the half-brother of Saudi King Fahd, told an online Arabic newspaper. "Saudi Arabia is not a theocracy despite applying Islamic law," the maverick Saudi prince told Elaph newspaper (www.elaph.com), launched from London, in an interview published Monday. "Islamists should take into consideration that the kingdom is a signatory to international treaties that should be respected," he said, insisting that both the Saudi people and the government wanted reform. "The two parties want reform but we should not forget that there is a struggle between Islamists and liberals. Each party tries to tip the balance to its side," he said. "The ruler tries to maintain a balance between the conflicting sides. Islamists however hold an important card, as the kingdom was established on the basis of Islamic law," added the former finance minister, whose outspoken views on democracy have clashed with other members of the Saudi royal family. |