Jul 03 2017 : The Times of India (Chennai)
Saudi Arabia king gets columnist suspended for equating him with God
Dubai:
REUTERS
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Saudi Arabia's king Salman bin Abdulaziz has ordered an over-enthusiastic columnist to be suspended from his job after he equated him with God, Saudi media reported on Sunday .King Salman has frequently been lauded by columnists in local media, in traditional deference to authority , since the 81-year-old assumed office in 2015. But Ramadan al-Anzi's column in al-Jazirah newspaper describing King Salman as “Haleem“, or forbearing, and “Shadeed alEqab“, strict in punishment -both terms associated in Islam with God -appeared to have gone too far. Attributing divine qualities or giving individuals any of the 99 names of God is frowned upon in the kingdom, which follows the strict Sunni Muslim Wahhabi school of Islam.
The newspaper published an apology on Saturday . “The phrases and tribute which the author bestowed on the personality of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, are not acceptable, despite what God had bestowed upon him, may God protect him, of the honour of serving the two holy mosques, Islam, the homeland and the people,“ it wrote.
Saudi media reported that the king had ordered for action against the newspaper.In a message to information minister Awwad bin Saleh Alawwad, the king wrote that he was “astonished by some of the phrases used in the column“, reports said.
The newspaper published an apology on Saturday . “The phrases and tribute which the author bestowed on the personality of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, are not acceptable, despite what God had bestowed upon him, may God protect him, of the honour of serving the two holy mosques, Islam, the homeland and the people,“ it wrote.
Saudi media reported that the king had ordered for action against the newspaper.In a message to information minister Awwad bin Saleh Alawwad, the king wrote that he was “astonished by some of the phrases used in the column“, reports said.
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