Winds of change across Saudi Arabia as cinema returns after 35 years

Riyadh, Dec 12: There are winds of change in the fundamentally Islamic country of Saudi Arabia. First they allowed women to drive cars, then accepted Yoga as a sport and appointed a committee of Islamic scholars to review and purify the Islamic religious texts. And now, the country is opening its theatres to allow screening of films!!

The first cinema is expected to be screened by March next year. In 1982 the country had shut the doors of cinema halls owing to the pressure from the religious authorities. The reforms undertaken by the Crown Prince in the context of “Vision 2030” program will make to make the country moderate and open.

The Saudi Arabia’s ministry of culture and information has announced that they will be issuing licences with immediate effect so that the first cinema could be opened by March next year.

Cinema theatres were inaccessible to the Saudi citizens since 1982 when the Saudi authorities decided to close them due to pressure from the religious leaders. Last January, the great mufti Abdul Aziz Al al-Sheikh warned they are responsible for “depravity” and corruption of the morals.

The ministry statement said the decision was “central to the government’s program to encourage open and \rich national culture for the Saudis”. More than 300 cinemas and 2000 screens are expected to be inaugurated by 2030.

The measure is part of the “Vision 2030” social and economic reform program commissioned by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. One of the goals is to increase national spending in cultural and entertainment activities from 2.9% to 6% by the end of the project.

This year, the Saudi authorities have also started sponsoring concerts. The American hip hop singers Nelly and Algerian Cheb Khaled will perform in the city of Jeddah in two days’ time - even if the event is open to men only.

Last week, Hiba Tawaji was the first female musician to perform at a concert in Saudi Arabia. It is the umpteenth opening promoted by the Saudi prince, after the green light to women drivers and their entry into the stadiums.

Mohammed bin Salman intends to make the kingdom, famous for its strict vision of Wahhabite Islam, a "moderate and open" country. The "revolution" also embraces Islam, according to a vision in which "our religion translates into tolerance" shelving Wahhabism once and for all.