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Mohammed bin Salman

The sun rises over a Mosque on the Persian Gulf in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 9, 1990.

Saudi Arabia’s conservative clerics have a new relationship with the government under Mohammed bin Salman

Lifestyle & Belief

Social change in Saudi Arabia has long been deemed impossible due to the influence of the conservative clerical establishment. But as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman supports new cultural attractions, experts are wondering whether the power of these clerics has diminished. Raihan Ismail, professor of contemporary Islamic studies at Oxford University, spoke to The World’s host Carolyn Beeler about what role the clerics play in Saudi society today.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman review a military honor guard during a welcome ceremony, in Ankara, Turkey

MBS visits Ankara as Turkey attempts to repair relations with its regional rivals

Global Politics
Several young school children are shown wearing blue traditional Muslim coverning with a security official hearing a red helmet standing by.

Hundreds of abducted schoolgirls in Nigeria released

Top of The World
Two people are shown from behind wearing head coverings and looking up at a screen showing with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Gulf Arab leaders sign declaration with Qatar to ease rift

Global Politics
Several white candles are burning in front of a sign that reads, "Justice for Jamal Khashoggi."

Saudi sentences five to death, three to jail over Khashoggi murder

Justice
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Protesters hold signs with images of Saudi journalists on them

International community has ‘failed’ in the aftermath of Khashoggi’s death

Justice

Journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance and death brought unwanted attention to the Saudi regime. It has also challenged world leadership to take a stand for human rights, press freedoms and rule of law — a responsibility that has been largely shirked on this grim anniversary.

A man holds a sign that says "we will not leave without Jamal Khashoggi"

Jamal Khashoggi’s last interview with The World

The World spoke to journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2017. This is the complete transcript of the interview.

People attend a symbolic funeral prayer for Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi

UN report sees credible evidence linking Saudi crown prince to Khashoggi murder

Conflict & Justice

Khashoggi’s death stirred widespread disgust and hurt the image of crown prince, previously admired in the West for pushing to end the kingdom’s oil dependence and easing social restrictions including by allowing women to drive.

Saudi women attend a concert featuring the Greek perfomer Yanni at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 3, 2017. 

Saudi Arabia isn’t known for fun. It has a $64 billion plan to turn it around.

Is this a genuine attempt at an image makeover?

Saudi woman dressed in black robe walks behind a man wearing all white.

‘Niqab under my foot’ — Saudi women step on veils in online protest

Women & Gender

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that women were not required to wear abayas. But women say that in practice nothing has changed, and demanded more freedom.

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