Report: 3,500 Saudi imams dismissed to ‘curb extremism’

Well this sounds good, until one understands the Saudi definition of extremism.  In Saudi, an extremist is any one in the Muslim Brotherhood or who are Shia.  One must remember that Saudi executed the founder of the Brotherhood and has banned it ever since.  As for the Shia, they have been persecuted and considered apostates for 1,400 years by the Sunni majority.  At the same time, the Saudi elite have no problem financing Brotherhood activities as long as they are outside of Arabia and are waging jihad against the West.

Just remember a few years ago when the Saudi "religious" police barricaded a number of young girls in a burning school and shot the few who managed to escape the fire.  This was because the girls did not have time to properly "cover themselves" before fleeing the blaze.  So one must ask, just who are the extremists?  Actually all pious and observant Muslims are extremists. 

FROM ALARABIYA.NET:

Last Update: Sunday, 21 July 2013 KSA 13:07 - GMT 10:07
Report: 3,500 Saudi imams dismissed to ‘curb extremism’
Sunday, 21 July 2013

Al Arabiya

A 2012 U.S. government report has found that around 3,500 "extremist" clerics in Saudi Arabia were dismissed since 2003, al-Hayat newspaper reported on Sunday.

The report, which had its summary published last May, said the dismissals were carried out under a program to curb Islamic extremism.

Under a program to monitor all government-paid clerics, “the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Call, and Guidance (MOIA) has removed 3,500 imams from duty since 2003,” the report stated.

“In a move to curb extremist and “absurd” fatwas, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz decreed in 2010 that only members of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars, and those whom the king permits, may issue public fatwas. This decree is still in effect,” the report added.

Toufic al-Sdiri, an official from the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Dawah and Guidance, told al-Hayat newspaper the imams were not only dismissed over their "extremist" beliefs, but also due to absences and frequent administrative violations.

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