On the eve of the Day of Dialogue and in connection with unconfirmed but unrefuted rumors that the Saudi authorities plan to execute three popular preachers, more than 80 prominent Islamic figures from Western countries have appealed to them to show mercy.
It should be noted that the execution of Salman al-Awdah, Awad al-Qarni and Ali al-Omari could take place shortly after the end of Ramadan. Among the signatories are names such as Faraz Rabbani, Suleiman Gani, and Jonathan Brown, that is, scholars, mosque imams, professors from the largest Western universities who shape the intellectual space of Islam in the West.
They have pointed out to the Saudi authorities, who recently held a conference on «moderation» in Islam on their territory, that showing mercy to the preachers who have been popularizing these views for many years would demonstrate that their words match their deeds.
On the contrary, executing preachers known worldwide for their moderate views would deal a colossal blow to the reputation of the Saudi authorities and undermine their efforts to promote «moderate Islam».
It is worth noting in this regard that their recent initiatives to improve relations with Qatar, which they needed once again in the midst of renewed tensions with Iran, give much greater hope for the prudence of the Saudi authorities than these warnings.
Sheikh al-Awdah, for example, was arrested during the fight against the «Qatari fifth column» in Saudi Arabia, so there is hope that the warming of Saudi-Qatari relations could lead to the release of these preachers, or at least to the preservation of their lives.