Power struggle could start in Saud and Wahab Families of Saudi Arabia

Riyadh: The Power in Saudi Arabia was settled with, the Saud family as political rulers and the Wahab family to control the religious matters. The gulf media are expressing fears that this pact of 250 years could end and could even result in bloody clashes. The policies of the Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman are mainly being held responsible for this.

There is a lot of turmoil in Saudi Arabia in recent months. Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman has started strong actions against corruptions and had arrested powerful Saudi princes and senior officials. Also, Prince Mohammad has given the indications of softening the hardliner stand in favour of liberalisation. Prince Mohammad has made announcements such as allowing driving permits to women, allowing women into sports stadium that has proven to be revolutionary for Saudi. Prince Mohammad has also shown his inclination to permit organising music programs and movies.

Prince Mohammad has revoked certain rights of Saudi relics controlling the religious and the cultural matters. The Wahab family had the control over the matters related to the religion and the Saudi royal family never interfered in their working. The powers were distributed in this way between the Saud Royal family and the Wahab family. But this arrangement of 250 years, of balance of power, seems to be collapsing and Prince Mohammad is seen to be taking rapid steps to change the traditional practices. There is a strong possibility of the ‘House of Wahabs’ objecting to this.

Prince Mohammad had received accolades for his anti-corruption as well as the other policies from the Wahab family. The media is asking ‘Will the Wahab family members keep quiet when their rights in the religious matter are under threat?’ The media is predicting a change of stance, even though the Wahab family is quiet now. Analysts are also trying to remind that, King Faisal had attempted to implement such liberal policies which had come under severe criticism and Saudi had changed towards a more traditional policy.

Three decades after this there were no specific attempts of liberalisation in Saudi. But now Prince Mohammad is bringing about a rapid change. The media is saying that a country like Saudi can not tolerate these changes and there can be a reaction from the Wahab family. Some sections of the media -doubt the clout of the Wahab family over the people in Saudi. But if the Wahab family takes a stand to oppose the liberalisation and the reduction of their rights in religious matters, it could result in a serious power struggle, in Saudi Arabia, is what these news agencies are predicting.