By Mallika Singh

Amidst Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's efforts to liberalise the conservative Muslim Kingdom, a promotional video published by Saudi Arabia's state security agency categorises feminism, homosexuality, and atheism as extremist ideas.

The verified account of the State Security Presidency tweeted an animated video on the weekend, declaring that "all forms of extremism and perversion are unacceptable". 
&nbsp; 
Takfir was enlisted alongside the ideologies, which is a controversial concept in Islamist discourse, symbolising ex-communication, pronouncing that someone is an unbeliever and no longer Muslim. &nbsp;

"Don't forget that excess of anything at the expense of the homeland is considered extremism," stated the video.

In the Kingdom's efforts to promote tolerance, attract foreigners and foreign investment into the oil-dependent economy, the Crown Prince has pushed for a more moderate approach in his attempts to invoke nationalist sentiment among its countrymen.

Saudi Arabia this year embarked on loosening social restrictions with Riyadh doing away with the guardianship system that prevailed in the country, which stripped women of taking any major decisions about themselves without the consent of the assigned man.

The Kingdom also launched a tourist visa in the country's attempt to take over the presidency of the Group-20 countries next year.

The authorities have also cracked down on dissent, as a large number of women's rights advocates were arrested prior to the uplifting of a ban on women drivers last year, which led to people speculating it was a message that reform can only take place at the government's initiative. &nbsp;

According to Saudi law, groups classified as extremist organisations can be punished with imprisonment.

Homosexuality and atheism are considered to be illegal offences punishable by death in the absolute monarchy, where free media is still an alien concept. &nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)

By Mallika Singh Amidst Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's efforts to liberalise the conservative Muslim Kingdom, a promotional video published by Saudi Arabia's state security agency categorises feminism, homosexuality, and atheism as extremist ideas.

By Mallika Singh Amidst Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's efforts to liberalise the conservative Muslim Kingdom, a promotional video published by Saudi Arabia's state security agency categorises feminism, homosexuality, and atheism as extremist ideas. The verified account of the State Security Presidency tweeted an animated video on the weekend, declaring that "all forms of extremism and perversion are unacceptable". Takfir was enlisted alongside the ideologies, which is a controversial concept in Islamist discourse, symbolising ex-communication, pronouncing that someone is an unbeliever and no longer Muslim. "Don't forget that excess of anything at the expense of the homeland is considered extremism," stated the video. In the Kingdom's efforts to promote tolerance, attract foreigners and foreign investment into the oil-dependent economy, the Crown Prince has pushed for a more moderate approach in his attempts to invoke nationalist sentiment among its countrymen. Saudi Arabia this year embarked on loosening social restrictions with Riyadh doing away with the guardianship system that prevailed in the country, which stripped women of taking any major decisions about themselves without the consent of the assigned man. The Kingdom also launched a tourist visa in the country's attempt to take over the presidency of the Group-20 countries next year. The authorities have also cracked down on dissent, as a large number of women's rights advocates were arrested prior to the uplifting of a ban on women drivers last year, which led to people speculating it was a message that reform can only take place at the government's initiative. According to Saudi law, groups classified as extremist organisations can be punished with imprisonment. Homosexuality and atheism are considered to be illegal offences punishable by death in the absolute monarchy, where free media is still an alien concept. (With inputs from Reuters)

Saudi Arabia's State Security categorises feminism, homosexuality, atheism as extremist ideas

Saudi Arabia's state security agency distanced itself on Tuesday from a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabias-state-security-categorises-feminism-homosexuality-atheism-as-extremist-ideas-261671">promotional video</a> that categorized feminism, homosexuality and atheism as extremist ideas, blaming it on action by individuals.

The animated clip was posted on Twitter at the weekend by a verified account of the State Security Presidency which reports directly to the king. It has since been removed.

In a statement published by state television, the security agency said the video contained a number of mistakes in defining extremism, and that the individuals who made the video did not do their job properly.

In a separate statement, the state-affiliated Saudi Human Rights Commission said feminism was not a crime and that the kingdom "accords the utmost importance to women's rights."

Neither statement referenced homosexuality and atheism -which have long been illegal and punishable by death in the absolute monarchy.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pushed for a more moderate form of Islam and promoted nationalist sentiment under his ambitious reform strategy that aims to open up society and attract foreign investment to diversify the oil-dependent economy.

He has loosened social restrictions and launched a tourist visa and, as Saudi Arabia prepares to take over the presidency of the Group of 20 countries next year, Riyadh has chipped away at a guardianship system that assigns each woman a male relative to approve important decisions throughout their lives.

But the authorities have also cracked down on dissent, arresting scores of critics including clerics, intellectuals and activists.

Nearly a dozen women's rights advocates were detained some weeks before a ban on women driving - which they had campaigned against - was lifted last year. Activists and diplomats speculated that the arrests may have been a message that reform would happen only at the government's initiative.

Saudi Arabia's state security agency distanced itself on Tuesday from a promotional video that categorized feminism, homosexuality and atheism as extremist ideas, blaming it on action by individuals.

Saudi Arabia's state security agency distanced itself on Tuesday from a promotional video that categorized feminism, homosexuality and atheism as extremist ideas, blaming it on action by individuals. The animated clip was posted on Twitter at the weekend by a verified account of the State Security Presidency which reports directly to the king. It has since been removed. In a statement published by state television, the security agency said the video contained a number of mistakes in defining extremism, and that the individuals who made the video did not do their job properly. In a separate statement, the state-affiliated Saudi Human Rights Commission said feminism was not a crime and that the kingdom "accords the utmost importance to women's rights." Neither statement referenced homosexuality and atheism -which have long been illegal and punishable by death in the absolute monarchy. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pushed for a more moderate form of Islam and promoted nationalist sentiment under his ambitious reform strategy that aims to open up society and attract foreign investment to diversify the oil-dependent economy. He has loosened social restrictions and launched a tourist visa and, as Saudi Arabia prepares to take over the presidency of the Group of 20 countries next year, Riyadh has chipped away at a guardianship system that assigns each woman a male relative to approve important decisions throughout their lives. But the authorities have also cracked down on dissent, arresting scores of critics including clerics, intellectuals and activists. Nearly a dozen women's rights advocates were detained some weeks before a ban on women driving - which they had campaigned against - was lifted last year. Activists and diplomats speculated that the arrests may have been a message that reform would happen only at the government's initiative.

Saudi authorities backtrack on description of feminism as extremism

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