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Podcast: Middle East Dossier
Episode: Perfect Imperfection: Socio-cultural and Religious Reforms in Saudi Arabia
Description: Five years since then-Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) unveiled Vision 2030, reforms continue to be rolled out in Saudi Arabia. Early this year, for example, it announced new judicial reforms that set it on a course towards codified law â a major step for a country whose legal system is based on Islamic law. While such reforms are aimed at boosting the liberalisation drive by softening the nationâs austere image, jarring contradictions remain. Womenâs rights, for instance, remain a target of criticism â a recent article in The Washington Post revealed clandestine shelters that incarcerate âdisobedientâ women. This raises several questions: Is...