Saudi King Abdullah passes away

the "next son"? not the eldest? but how is "the next son" not the eldest?

Typical TSR focus only on his drawback and failures. He did plenty of good in this world as well.

It was at the King's request the Suadi Blogger's lashings were put to a halt. For Gaza, Saudi has pledged about USD 60m as financial aid during 2014.

People who break the law should be punished. If you are dumb enough to get caught with stealing when you know full well your hands will be cut off... well the blame is really on the country?

May his soul rest in peace.

So in all that time his achievement was halting lashes (not abolishing the practice, or even removing the sentence, just halting), and pledging finance to a terrorist state? Nice one.

For the Muslims that are talking ****, you guys do know you're not supposed to talk ill of the dead?

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He was a monarch, monarchies are generally absolute.

Abdullah was a moderniser and friend of the UK, he helped bring peace to the Middle East.

Oh and you couldn't make it up, the head of the IMF apparently has described him as a 'strong advocate of women'

Good for you.

Err, no - Saudi has a different form of succession to most monarchies. The crown passes to the next brother, rather than the eldest son of the monarch.

I saw a tweet this morning calling him a 'gradual moderniser. ' Even if such a thing were possible in Saudi, it wouldn't be the king. I just find it hard to believe.

I don't give a **** that this man is dead, and I don't think it's irrational to believe his successor will any less of a chode.

While obviously I see why figures like Cameron have said what they've said following his death, I still couldn't help but feel a little angry at some of the 'tributes' and ridiculous words being thrown around, 'moderniser', 'reformer', 'keeper of the peace' etc etc, when this is the leader of one of the most oppressive, brutal, barbaric regimes in the world, a country that doesn't allow women to drive, a country where homosexuality is punishable by death and of course a country that dishes out outrageous punishments to anyone even daring to speak out as we've seen recently with that Saudi blogger. So needless to say, I won't be shedding any tears at this news or 'honouring' his death.

Oh and you couldn't make it up, the head of the IMF apparently has described him as a 'strong advocate of women'

One person cannot change a country, but they could at least attempt to. This man did nothing for his people, it is enough to make me hope there is a hell, so people like this man may be punished for their crimes.

Um ... no. The majority of monarchies aren't absolute any more but constitutional, very few total ones are left..



That's a good one Abdullah sent tanks into Bahrain to suppress the democratic movement there. Saudi Arabia has also been funding numerous terror organisations and conflicts all over the middle east, most recently ISIL. How this is supposed to bring peace to the region is beyond my capabilities of comprehension.

His tiny reforms such as allowing women to vote (on what exactly - it's an absolute monarchy!) are a mere drop in the bucket that is one of the worst dictatorial regimes on the planet, and a significant part of them were merely spurred by fear of being the next country in line for the Arab spring to arrive.

you guys have absolutely no idea how much saudi arabia changed under his rule...

it is because you have not seen the saudi arabia of today. saudis are alot more open minded and modern than you think they are. And that's all happened under this guy's rule.

Yes you are allowed to talk Ill, if there is a consensus with valid proof and evidence that a certain individual was a dictator, a murderer, a brute - like Hitler for example.

So long as you speak truth and condemn the oppressors.

you guys have absolutely no idea how much saudi arabia changed under his rule...

it is because you have not seen the saudi arabia of today. saudis are alot more open minded and modern than you think they are. And that's all happened under this guy's rule.