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| Funeral held for Saudi king as new ruler moves younger generation closer to throne | Funeral held for Saudi king as new ruler moves younger generation closer to throne |
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| RIYADH—Saudi Arabia’s new king joined prayers Friday before the simple burial of the country’s late ruler, Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, even as attention shifted to the new map of royal succession that moved a younger generation closer to the throne. | RIYADH—Saudi Arabia’s new king joined prayers Friday before the simple burial of the country’s late ruler, Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, even as attention shifted to the new map of royal succession that moved a younger generation closer to the throne. |
| The quick action by King Salman to clarify the top tier of the Saudi hierarchy sought to project stability and resolve at a time when the country faces challenges on multiple fronts, including threats from Islamist militants and a political breakdown in neighboring Yemen. | The quick action by King Salman to clarify the top tier of the Saudi hierarchy sought to project stability and resolve at a time when the country faces challenges on multiple fronts, including threats from Islamist militants and a political breakdown in neighboring Yemen. |
| [Obituary: Abdullah, a wily king who embraced limited reform] | [Obituary: Abdullah, a wily king who embraced limited reform] |
| Salman’s decisions also acknowledged an important generational shift underway in the kingdom, as he named the country’s 55-year-old interior minister as the deputy crown prince. That puts him just behind Salman’s younger brother, Prince Muqrin, 69, in line for the throne. | Salman’s decisions also acknowledged an important generational shift underway in the kingdom, as he named the country’s 55-year-old interior minister as the deputy crown prince. That puts him just behind Salman’s younger brother, Prince Muqrin, 69, in line for the throne. |
| The interior minister, Mohammad bin Nayef, represents the first time the succession ranks have moved beyond the sons of the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz, to the generation of his grandchildren. | The interior minister, Mohammad bin Nayef, represents the first time the succession ranks have moved beyond the sons of the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz, to the generation of his grandchildren. |
| The move underscores the country’s demographic realities. | The move underscores the country’s demographic realities. |
| Close to half of Saudi Arabia’s population is under 25 years old and often straddles two worlds: ultraconservative rules at home and the freewheeling marketplace of ideas online. | Close to half of Saudi Arabia’s population is under 25 years old and often straddles two worlds: ultraconservative rules at home and the freewheeling marketplace of ideas online. |
| The Arab Spring upheavals across the region in 2011 did not directly touch Saudi Arabia, but the speed and scope of the changes — often driven by young protesters — did not go unnoticed by the Saudi elite. | The Arab Spring upheavals across the region in 2011 did not directly touch Saudi Arabia, but the speed and scope of the changes — often driven by young protesters — did not go unnoticed by the Saudi elite. |
| [Read: Abdullah’s death sets up complex succession process] | [Read: Abdullah’s death sets up complex succession process] |
| “We will continue adhering to the correct policies which Saudi Arabia has followed since its establishment,” Salman said in his first address after taking the throne. | “We will continue adhering to the correct policies which Saudi Arabia has followed since its establishment,” Salman said in his first address after taking the throne. |
| The message also reached out to Western allies to suggest no major shifts in policy — and to the country’s youth as a hint that he would stick with Abdullah’s slow-yet-steady reforms. The changes under Abdullah’s nearly decade-long rule included greater education options for women and granting women the right to vote in local elections planned for later this year. | The message also reached out to Western allies to suggest no major shifts in policy — and to the country’s youth as a hint that he would stick with Abdullah’s slow-yet-steady reforms. The changes under Abdullah’s nearly decade-long rule included greater education options for women and granting women the right to vote in local elections planned for later this year. |
| But everything in Saudi Arabia must first pass through the powerful Islamic religious establishment, which gives the House of Saud legitimacy to rule in the land of Islam’s holiest sites. The country’s morality police remain a potent force, and some reforms remain out of reach, such as lifting a ban on women driving. | But everything in Saudi Arabia must first pass through the powerful Islamic religious establishment, which gives the House of Saud legitimacy to rule in the land of Islam’s holiest sites. The country’s morality police remain a potent force, and some reforms remain out of reach, such as lifting a ban on women driving. |
| Saudi Arabia’s strict codes also have faced global condemnation, including the sentencing of a blogger to 1,000 lashes last year for posts deemed insulting to Islam. The public punishment has been suspended after one round of flogging. | Saudi Arabia’s strict codes also have faced global condemnation, including the sentencing of a blogger to 1,000 lashes last year for posts deemed insulting to Islam. The public punishment has been suspended after one round of flogging. |
| Salman’s speech further suggested he will seek to continue Saudi Arabia’s increasing role in regional affairs, which has occasionally put it at odds with Washington. In one key break, Saudi leaders expressed dismay when the United States opted not to launch airstrikes against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. | Salman’s speech further suggested he will seek to continue Saudi Arabia’s increasing role in regional affairs, which has occasionally put it at odds with Washington. In one key break, Saudi leaders expressed dismay when the United States opted not to launch airstrikes against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. |
| “The Arab and the Islamic nations are in dire need of solidarity and cohesion,” the 79-year-old king said. | “The Arab and the Islamic nations are in dire need of solidarity and cohesion,” the 79-year-old king said. |
| The new deputy crown prince is the son of former Crown Prince Nayef, who died in 2012. As head of the powerful Interior Ministry, which is in charge of domestic security, Mohammad earned a reputation for tough measures, especially crackdowns on al-Qaeda militants who oppose Saudi Arabia’s close ties to the West. | The new deputy crown prince is the son of former Crown Prince Nayef, who died in 2012. As head of the powerful Interior Ministry, which is in charge of domestic security, Mohammad earned a reputation for tough measures, especially crackdowns on al-Qaeda militants who oppose Saudi Arabia’s close ties to the West. |
| He has survived several assassination attempts, including a 2009 al-Qaeda suicide bombing that left him slightly injured. | He has survived several assassination attempts, including a 2009 al-Qaeda suicide bombing that left him slightly injured. |
| In the capital Riyadh, Salman took part in prayers with royal family members before the burial of Abdullah, whose body was wrapped in a simple shroud and placed in an unmarked grave in accordance with the kingdom’s conservative Islamic traditions. | In the capital Riyadh, Salman took part in prayers with royal family members before the burial of Abdullah, whose body was wrapped in a simple shroud and placed in an unmarked grave in accordance with the kingdom’s conservative Islamic traditions. |
| [View: The Saudi royal family tree] | [View: The Saudi royal family tree] |
| The death of Abdullah, 90, was announced early Friday in Saudi Arabia. He had been hospitalized in Riyadh while undergoing treatment for pneumonia. | The death of Abdullah, 90, was announced early Friday in Saudi Arabia. He had been hospitalized in Riyadh while undergoing treatment for pneumonia. |
| The ceremonies and burial were attended only by family members and the inner circle of aides and friends — in sharp contrast to extensive state funerals held for other rulers in the region, such as the 1999 funeral for Jordan’s King Hussein, which was attended by parade of dignitaries. | The ceremonies and burial were attended only by family members and the inner circle of aides and friends — in sharp contrast to extensive state funerals held for other rulers in the region, such as the 1999 funeral for Jordan’s King Hussein, which was attended by parade of dignitaries. |
| Pall bearers from his family carried a litter holding the king’s shrouded body to the public al-Oud cemetery, a sandy field with small, undecorated marker stones in sight of shabby apartment blocks that are home to some of the South Asian and African workers who flock to the Arab states of the Persian Gulf for construction jobs and other work. | Pall bearers from his family carried a litter holding the king’s shrouded body to the public al-Oud cemetery, a sandy field with small, undecorated marker stones in sight of shabby apartment blocks that are home to some of the South Asian and African workers who flock to the Arab states of the Persian Gulf for construction jobs and other work. |
| The cemetery was guarded from early morning by soldiers stationed every 100 feet or so around the perimeter. Crowds stood for hours as military helicopters hovered overhead. | The cemetery was guarded from early morning by soldiers stationed every 100 feet or so around the perimeter. Crowds stood for hours as military helicopters hovered overhead. |
| Graffiti sprayed on the cemetery wall said in Arabic: “Death is a door through which everyone must pass.” | Graffiti sprayed on the cemetery wall said in Arabic: “Death is a door through which everyone must pass.” |
| “I’m so sad about this; he was a good king,” said Ibrahim al-Dosry, 29, a Saudi man who stood in a crowd near the cemetery entrance. “It is our duty to be with the king in his last moments.” | “I’m so sad about this; he was a good king,” said Ibrahim al-Dosry, 29, a Saudi man who stood in a crowd near the cemetery entrance. “It is our duty to be with the king in his last moments.” |
| Dosry and others watched as a steady stream of shiny black SUVs, Range Rovers, Bentleys and other luxury cars carrying royal family members and other dignitaries drove by escorted by police cars with flashing lights. | Dosry and others watched as a steady stream of shiny black SUVs, Range Rovers, Bentleys and other luxury cars carrying royal family members and other dignitaries drove by escorted by police cars with flashing lights. |
| Tributes from around the world poured in for Abdullah, a key Western ally. The White House announced that Vice President Biden would lead a U.S. delegation to Saudi Arabia in the coming days to pay respects to the king’s family. | Tributes from around the world poured in for Abdullah, a key Western ally. The White House announced that Vice President Biden would lead a U.S. delegation to Saudi Arabia in the coming days to pay respects to the king’s family. |
| Under the country’s austere interpretations of Islam, there were few public displays of mourning or transition. Flags were not lowered to half staff as in the West, and buildings were not decked in black as in other Muslim countries such as Iran. | Under the country’s austere interpretations of Islam, there were few public displays of mourning or transition. Flags were not lowered to half staff as in the West, and buildings were not decked in black as in other Muslim countries such as Iran. |
| But work crews were quietly dispatched to change some signs on at least one major boulevard, which was renamed for the new king. | But work crews were quietly dispatched to change some signs on at least one major boulevard, which was renamed for the new king. |
| Salman, meanwhile, took further steps to consolidate the ranks of Saudi leadership. | Salman, meanwhile, took further steps to consolidate the ranks of Saudi leadership. |
| He appointed his own son, Mohammad bin Salman, to succeed him as defense minister and to the powerful position of head of the king’s royal court, replacing Abdullah’s longtime chief. | He appointed his own son, Mohammad bin Salman, to succeed him as defense minister and to the powerful position of head of the king’s royal court, replacing Abdullah’s longtime chief. |
| While that position does not place Mohammad bin Salman in the direct line of succession to the throne, it solidifies the power of Salman’s direct family inside a royal family that is riven by political maneuvering. | While that position does not place Mohammad bin Salman in the direct line of succession to the throne, it solidifies the power of Salman’s direct family inside a royal family that is riven by political maneuvering. |
| The succession process is conducted by the Allegiance Council, a body created by Abdullah. It consists of 35 senior princes, all sons and grandsons of Abdul Aziz, who meet in secret to choose a new leader when the king dies. | The succession process is conducted by the Allegiance Council, a body created by Abdullah. It consists of 35 senior princes, all sons and grandsons of Abdul Aziz, who meet in secret to choose a new leader when the king dies. |
| The new crown prince, Muqrin, is said to be smart and well-liked by ordinary Saudis. He also has good ties with Saudi Arabia’s most important ally, the United States. | The new crown prince, Muqrin, is said to be smart and well-liked by ordinary Saudis. He also has good ties with Saudi Arabia’s most important ally, the United States. |
| But the choice sparked fierce opposition from some of the many excluded princes. In addition, Muqrin’s mother was a Yemeni concubine, not a Saudi princess, and some in the family reportedly consider his lineage too impure for him to wear the crown. | But the choice sparked fierce opposition from some of the many excluded princes. In addition, Muqrin’s mother was a Yemeni concubine, not a Saudi princess, and some in the family reportedly consider his lineage too impure for him to wear the crown. |
| Khaled al-Maeena, a columnist for the Saudi Gazette newspaper who was the paper’s longtime editor, said Saudi tradition sets aside three days for mourners to pay condolences and pledge support to the new king. | Khaled al-Maeena, a columnist for the Saudi Gazette newspaper who was the paper’s longtime editor, said Saudi tradition sets aside three days for mourners to pay condolences and pledge support to the new king. |
| He said people outside Riyadh would go to regional governors’ offices to make that pledge, which described as a show of unity. | He said people outside Riyadh would go to regional governors’ offices to make that pledge, which described as a show of unity. |
| “It’s not like he’s Caesar,” Maeena said. “It’s just for people to show that they are with him.” | “It’s not like he’s Caesar,” Maeena said. “It’s just for people to show that they are with him.” |
| Salman takes charge amid an array of challenges. | Salman takes charge amid an array of challenges. |
| Saudi Arabia is deeply worried about the apparent collapse of the government in neighboring Yemen and the rise of rebels believed backed by Iran, the main regional rival of Saudi Arabia and its Arab partners in the gulf. | Saudi Arabia is deeply worried about the apparent collapse of the government in neighboring Yemen and the rise of rebels believed backed by Iran, the main regional rival of Saudi Arabia and its Arab partners in the gulf. |
| The Saudi leadership has also pressed for greater international aid for Syrian rebels seeking to topple Assad. | The Saudi leadership has also pressed for greater international aid for Syrian rebels seeking to topple Assad. |
| Falling oil prices have hit the bottom line for OPEC’s biggest producer, but Saudi officials also are watching how the drop in oil revenue is squeezing Iran. On Friday, oil prices rose initially as the Saudi transition of power stirred uncertainty in markets, but prices later dropped back after Salman’s comments about keeping policies on track. | |
| Inside the kingdom, Saudi security officials have stepped up security measures and surveillance on suspected Islamist militant cells. In November, Saudi security forces arrested more than 80 people in extensive sweeps after deadly attacks against the country’s Shiite minority blamed on al-Qaeda-linked gunmen. | Inside the kingdom, Saudi security officials have stepped up security measures and surveillance on suspected Islamist militant cells. In November, Saudi security forces arrested more than 80 people in extensive sweeps after deadly attacks against the country’s Shiite minority blamed on al-Qaeda-linked gunmen. |
| In contrast to the homage from world leaders, Web sites used by Islamist militants carried hateful messages directed toward Abdullah and his ties to the West. | In contrast to the homage from world leaders, Web sites used by Islamist militants carried hateful messages directed toward Abdullah and his ties to the West. |
| The phrase “Death of a Tyrant,” translated into Arabic, began a popular Twitter hashtag. | The phrase “Death of a Tyrant,” translated into Arabic, began a popular Twitter hashtag. |
| Another post on social media depicted Abdullah as one of the foreign hostages held by the Islamic State: wearing an orange jumpsuit with a masked militant standing behind him holding a knife. | Another post on social media depicted Abdullah as one of the foreign hostages held by the Islamic State: wearing an orange jumpsuit with a masked militant standing behind him holding a knife. |
| “We don’t want him to die. We want to slaughter him this way,” the post said, | “We don’t want him to die. We want to slaughter him this way,” the post said, |
| Abdullah, the sixth king of Saudi Arabia, gained a reputation as a reformer without changing his country’s power structure, and he maintained good relations with the United States while striking an independent course in foreign policy. | Abdullah, the sixth king of Saudi Arabia, gained a reputation as a reformer without changing his country’s power structure, and he maintained good relations with the United States while striking an independent course in foreign policy. |
| He pumped billions of dollars into modernization of the Saudi educational system, opened up the Saudi economy, ushered his country into the World Trade Organization, curbed the authority of the religious police, pardoned some victims of an unforgiving judiciary, met with then-Pope Benedict XVI and espoused interfaith tolerance. He also cracked down on extremism, reached out to women and offered a plan for Arab peace with Israel. | He pumped billions of dollars into modernization of the Saudi educational system, opened up the Saudi economy, ushered his country into the World Trade Organization, curbed the authority of the religious police, pardoned some victims of an unforgiving judiciary, met with then-Pope Benedict XVI and espoused interfaith tolerance. He also cracked down on extremism, reached out to women and offered a plan for Arab peace with Israel. |
| Abdullah’s predecessor, Fahd, suffered a debilitating stroke in 1995. The following January, Abdullah, as crown prince, assumed most of the duties and responsibilities of the monarch, and in effect ran the country as regent until Fahd’s death in 2005. | Abdullah’s predecessor, Fahd, suffered a debilitating stroke in 1995. The following January, Abdullah, as crown prince, assumed most of the duties and responsibilities of the monarch, and in effect ran the country as regent until Fahd’s death in 2005. |
| Murphy reported from Washington. | Murphy reported from Washington. |
| Related stories on Saudi Arabia: | Related stories on Saudi Arabia: |
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