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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Saudis to retrain 40,000 clerics | Saudis to retrain 40,000 clerics |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| Saudi Arabia is to retrain its 40,000 prayer leaders - also known as imams - in an effort to counter militant Islam. | Saudi Arabia is to retrain its 40,000 prayer leaders - also known as imams - in an effort to counter militant Islam. |
| Details of the plan were revealed in the influential Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat. | |
| The plan is part of a wider programme launched by the Saudi monarch a few years ago to encourage moderation and tolerance in Saudi society. | The plan is part of a wider programme launched by the Saudi monarch a few years ago to encourage moderation and tolerance in Saudi society. |
| The ministry of religious affairs and new centre for national dialogue will carry out the training, the paper said. | The ministry of religious affairs and new centre for national dialogue will carry out the training, the paper said. |
| The centre was created five years ago to disseminate a moderate interpretation of Islamic tradition. | The centre was created five years ago to disseminate a moderate interpretation of Islamic tradition. |
| There is growing awareness in Saudi society that security measures alone are not enough to counter the threat of Islamic militancy. | There is growing awareness in Saudi society that security measures alone are not enough to counter the threat of Islamic militancy. |
| Scepticism | Scepticism |
| Saudi clerics have long been accused of encouraging Saudi youth to join global jihad and of inciting hatred of non-Muslims. | Saudi clerics have long been accused of encouraging Saudi youth to join global jihad and of inciting hatred of non-Muslims. |
| Nearly 1,000 imams have already been sacked over the past few years. | Nearly 1,000 imams have already been sacked over the past few years. |
| The Saudi royal family has come under increasing pressure - mainly from Washington - to change religious textbooks and to rein in militant clerics. | The Saudi royal family has come under increasing pressure - mainly from Washington - to change religious textbooks and to rein in militant clerics. |
| But critics are sceptical about whether such initiatives would work as long as the powerful, and ultraconservative, religious establishment in Saudi Arabia continues to exert enormous influence over society. | But critics are sceptical about whether such initiatives would work as long as the powerful, and ultraconservative, religious establishment in Saudi Arabia continues to exert enormous influence over society. |
| Only last week, a prominent cleric called for the beheading of two liberal writers who had questioned the orthodox view that Muslims can not change their religion. | Only last week, a prominent cleric called for the beheading of two liberal writers who had questioned the orthodox view that Muslims can not change their religion. |