Saudi Arabia pursuing religious reforms

RIYADH: Muezzins issuing high-decibel calls to prayer have long been part of Saudi identity, but a decision to keep volume of mosque loudspeakers low is among reforms in the Muslim kingdom.

The role of religion faces the biggest reset in modern times as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, spurred by the need to diversify the oil-reliant economy, pursues a liberalisation drive.

The government last month ordered that mosque loudspeakers limit their volume to one-third of their maximum capacity and not broadcast full sermons, citing concerns over noise pollution.

"The country is re-establishing its foundations," Aziz Alghashian, a politics lecturer at the University of Essex, told AFP. It´s becoming an economically driven country that is investing substantial effort in trying to appear more appealing to investors and tourists, he said. In the most significant change that began even before the rise of Prince Mohammed, Saudi Arabia neutered its once-feared religious police, who once chased people out of malls to go and pray and berated anyone seen mingling with the opposite sex.

Some shops and restaurants now remain open during the prayer time. Preachers are endorsing government decisions -- including allowing women to drive, the reopening of cinemas and an outreach to Jews.

Saudi Arabia is revising school textbooks. The practice of non-Muslim religions remains banned in the kingdom, but government advisor Ali Shihabi recently told US media outlet Insider that allowing a church was on "the to-do list of the leadership". Prince Mohammed, popularly known as MBS, has sought to position himself as a champion of "moderate" Islam.