What is the role of the religious hierarchy in Saudi Arabia in relationship to the government?
The religious hierarchy is a governmental institution. Their role is to justify anything the government wants to do, using religious authentication. … You mean they’re paid by the government? Yes, they are. The religious institution in Saudi Arabia is paid and hired and chosen by the government. So there’s no separation of church and state? No separation between the Salafi institution and the Saudi government. You say “Salafi institution.” What does that mean? Salafi is an understanding of Islam which starts in Saudi Arabia 200 years ago. And it is the official sect in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government adopts the Salafi understanding of Islam and implement it on all Saudis.
