Leftward Shift by Conservative Cleric Leaves Saudis Perplexed

Leftward Shift by Conservative Cleric Leaves Saudis Perplexed - NYTimes.com "Mr. Awda had something akin to a conversion moment during the Arab uprisings of 2011, and since then has become a passionate promoter of democracy and civic tolerance. He has more than 4.5 million followers on Twitter and several million on his regular YouTube broadcasts, making him a significant thorn in the side of the Saudi monarchy. He can be dangerously blunt, at least by Saudi standards, and the government has made its displeasure clear, barring him from print media, television and foreign travel." Salman al-Oadah is discussed in this article.

Salman al-Awdah

Ahram Online, KSA could face Arab spring-like spark of violence: Saudi Cleric "Sheikh Salman al-Awdah, a conservative who was imprisoned from 1994-99 for agitating for political change and has 2.4 million followers on Twitter, expressed his concerns in an open letter on the social media site." Accompanied by an internet derived photo of the Sheikh on his Mac:

 

al-Oudah on Fort Hood

wired.com, Danger Room, Bin Laden’s Spiritual Mentor Condemns Ft. Hood Attacks, 16 Nov 09

"Salman Al-Awdah, a Saudi cleric who played an influential role in Bin Laden’s early radicalism, made the statement during an appearance on his “Life is a Word” show on MBC, a Saudi-owned news and entertainment satellite TV channel, later posting his remarks on his website, Islam Today."

dailytimes.com.pk, VIEW: The new bin Laden —Fawaz A Gerges, 27 Sept 07, "In an open letter, one of his prominent Saudi mentors, preacher and scholar Salman Al Oadah, publicly reproaches bin Laden for causing widespread mayhem and killing. “How many innocent children, elderly people, and women were killed in the name of Al Qaeda?” asks Al Oadah on his website, Islamtoday.com, and in comments on an Arabic television station. “How many people were forced to flee their homes and how much blood was shed in the name of Al Qaeda?” The reaction of his former pupil is not known, but the angry denunciation by bin Laden’s supporters leaves no doubt that it hurts." Article originally appeared in YaleGlobal Online (www.yaleglobal.yale.edu) The text of the original statement by Salman b. Fahd al-Oadah can be found here: Islam Today, A Ramadan Letter to Osama bin Laden, 14 Sept 07