For conservatives in Saudi Arabia, entertainment options have always been scarce. Social gatherings for women and religious summer camps for boys and young men did not fulfill the need for entertainment. This became more of an issue when more Saudis began tuning in to Arab and international television channels for movies, reality shows and series. […]

Saudi liberalism was subject to criticism due to the recent events that took place at the Riyadh International Book Fair earlier this month. The annual event has always highlighted intellectual and cultural tensions in the country. For years, official and unofficial religious figures patrolled the aisles of the book fair to reinforce gender segregation or […]

Earlier this month, Saudi Shura Council ordered the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta to review fatwas posted on its website that contradict current reforms in the country. Other fatwas on the presidency’s website include some that Saudis consider “outdated” since they forbid practices that many take for granted. The order by the Shura […]

Postcolonial theory has something for everyone. For those in the Middle East, it provides insight and understanding into the calamities and complexities of the region. However, for those from Saudi Arabia, especially the central region of Najd, such theory might not seem relevant. Najd was hardly colonized by any power throughout the years due to […]

 This is the second part of a three-part series; find the first one here. The 1980s allowed religious figures of the sahwa movement to established a strong hold on the country. However, it was the regional and domestic unrest in the 1990s that brought in a new set of challenges that would have an effect on […]