Al-Shethri relieved of his duties

Al-Shethri relieved of his duties Arab News

Sheikh Saad bin Nasser bin Abdul Aziz Al-Shethri JEDDAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on Sunday issued a royal decree relieving Sheikh Saad bin Nasser bin Abdul Aziz Al-Shethri of his duties as member of the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars and the permanent committee for Islamic research and ruling (Ifta). "We hereby instruct all concerned departments to implement this order," the decree said. The action against the scholar came a few days after his controversial statement questioning co-education at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), which was officially opened by the king on Sept. 23 in the presence of several world leaders and renowned scientists and academics. During a talk show on Al-Majd Islamic TV channel last week, Al-Shethri said mixing of sexes in the land of the Two Holy Mosques was unacceptable. He also wanted a Shariah committee to look into the studies being conducted at the international university and their compatibility with Shariah Law. The sheikh's comment drew widespread criticism. Many Saudi writers and intellectuals opposed his views and said the mixing of sexes should not be considered immoral. "If the sheikh views it immoral then we have to shut down all hospitals, shopping malls and even the Two Holy Mosques," Abdu Khal wrote in his column.