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Saudi Arabia's crown prince promises country will return to 'moderate, open Islam' Saudi Arabia's crown prince promises country will return to 'moderate, open Islam'
(35 minutes later)
Saudi Arabia's crown prince, speaking at a major investment conference, has promised the country will "return to what we used to be - moderate, open Islam". Saudi Arabia's crown prince, speaking at a major investment conference, has promised his kingdom will return to "what we were before - a country of moderate Islam that is open to all religions and to the world".
Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud made the announcement at the beginning of the landmark Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh on Tuesday. Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud made the announcement at the beginning of the landmark Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh on Tuesday. 
The country would also do more to tackle extremism, the prince said. "We will not waste 30 years of our lives dealing with extremist ideas, we will destroy them today," he told interviewers.  The country would also do more to tackle extremism, the prince said. "We will not waste 30 years of our lives dealing with extremist ideas, we will destroy them today," he told an interviewer. 
"It was not like this in the past... We will end extremism very soon", the prince added. "It was not like this in the past... We will end extremism very soon", the prince added, in his most direct criticism of Saudi Arabia's conservative religious establishment to date. 
Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy, is governed under an puritanical form of Sunni Islam known as Wahabism; it is extremist versions of Wahabism that are espoused by jihadist movements such as Al Qaeda and Isis. Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy, is governed under an puritanical form of Sunni Islam known as Wahabism; it is extremist versions of Wahabism that are espoused by jihadist movements such as Al Qaeda and Isis.
In the wake of 9/11, the Saudi authorities have worked alongside the US and other Western countries to tackle radicalisation - but have often been criticised for not doing enough.  In the wake of 9/11, the Saudi authorities have worked alongside the US and other Western countries to tackle radicalisation and terrorism funding - but have often been criticised for not doing enough. 
Prince bin Salman, who was appointed heir to the throne by his father King Salman earlier this year, is seen by many as the face of the modern kingdom.  The claims from Prince bin Salman will be met with scepticism internationally, as Saudi's hardline clerics still wield much power and influence in the country.  Rights groups continue to condemn the state's human rights violations in the state, the precedent for many of which is based on Saudi interpretations of Quranic law. 
The 32-year-old is the driving force behind ‘Vision 2030’, Saudi Arabia's long term economic and social policy designed to wean itself off dependence on oil, and is popular for his reforms to the country’s ineffective state bureaucracy.  Prince bin Salman, who was suddenly appointed heir to the throne by his father King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud earlier this year, is seen by many as the face of the modern kingdom. 
The 32-year-old is the driving force behind ‘Vision 2030’, Saudi Arabia's long term economic and social policy designed to wean itself off dependence on oil, and is popular for his reforms to the country’s ineffective state bureaucracy. 
Last month, it was announced women in Saudi Arabia would be finally be given the right to drive, a symbolic move signalling changes to the institutionalised discrimination against women in the country. Last month, it was announced women in Saudi Arabia would be finally be given the right to drive, a symbolic move signalling changes to the institutionalised discrimination against women in the country. 
While Prince bin Salman has built his reputation as a bold and socially liberal reformer, critics note his hawkish foreign policy. As defence minister - a position he has held since 2015 -  he has attracted criticism for his role in Saudi Arabia’s bloody intervention in the Yemeni civil war, as well as his aggressive stance on Iran. While Prince bin Salman has built his reputation as a bold and socially liberal reformer, critics note his hawkish foreign policy. As defence minister - a position he has held since 2015 -  he has attracted censure over his role in Saudi Arabia’s bloody intervention in the Yemeni civil war, as well as his aggressive stance on Iran.
The prince is also regarded as one of the primary decision makers behind the Gulf states’ recent cutting of ties with Qatar. The prince is also regarded as one of the primary decision makers behind the Gulf states’ recent cutting of ties with Qatar. 
Also at the Future Investment Initiative, Prince bin Salman announced the creation of Neom, a new $500 billion city to be built on the border with Jordan and Egypt.  Also at the Future Investment Initiative, Prince bin Salman announced the creation of Neom, a new $500 billion independent economic zone to be built on the border with Jordan and Egypt. 
The 2025 project will be run using alternative energy and serve as a worldwide technology innovation hub, the prince said.  The 2025 project will be run using alternative energy and serve as a worldwide technology innovation hub, the prince said. 
The conference, which runs until Thursday, is aimed at showing how Riyadh is opening itself up to the modern world and diversifying its revenue streams following a global plunge in oil prices.The conference, which runs until Thursday, is aimed at showing how Riyadh is opening itself up to the modern world and diversifying its revenue streams following a global plunge in oil prices.