Mohamed bin Salman’s intelligence and Salman Al-Saud’s wisdom
A wide controversy among the Saudi youth has sparked recently on social media over a picture that shows Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman meeting the Scholar Mohamad Al’Arefe- follower of Islamic Awakening Movement- and Cleric Hamad Al Atiq- a fundamentalist following Al-Gammi Movement. This scene is regarded by millions of Saudis as unusual, for al-‘Arefe and Al Atiq are clear examples of the ideological conflict that has been going for so long in Saudi Arabia, among such movements. This image was taken at the meeting held by the deputy crown prince, to which a number of Saudi figures and media representatives of all movements and beliefs were invited to witness launching Vision 2030, under the auspices of King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
It seems to send an indirect, yet powerful, message to all streams, which is: “The new Saudi Arabia will be built and developed by the hands of them all”. Besides, the journalists that attended the meeting, during which the prince answered all their questions, there were present many characters of completely different, even opposing, viewpoints and directions.
Some observers believe that the prince aimed through this meeting to tell Saudis that achieving progress in their country and rendering Vision 2030 successful requires solidarity and cooperation, while at the same time leaving room for different opinions and exchanging viewpoints in a reasonable realistic way.
Thus, many hope that the conflicting ideologies would get the message, and most importantly see beyond the end of their noses and comprehend that the new Saudi Arabia embraces everyone without exclusions, accusations or distrust.
