Saudi Arabia Appoints Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan as New Grand Mufti

Saudi Arabia has appointed Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan as the new Grand Mufti of the Kingdom. The state-run Saudi Press Agency reported that the 90-year-old Sheikh Saleh has assumed this position.

King Salman made the decision based on the recommendation of his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The decree was issued by the Saudi government on Wednesday night, according to the Associated Press.

Sheikh Saleh is a prominent figure in Saudi Arabia and is known for his ultra-conservative views. He was born on September 28, 1935, in the Al-Qassim province of Saudi Arabia. After the death of his father, he studied the Quran under a local Imam. He became widely known in Saudi Arabia through his radio program "Nur Ala Al-Darb" (Light the Path), his written books, and his public statements. His fatwas (religious rulings) have also been shared widely on social media platforms.

Sheikh Saleh has faced criticism in Western media for some of his past remarks. In 2017, a report by Human Rights Watch highlighted his controversial statement in response to a question about whether Sunni Muslims should regard Shia Muslims as their brothers, to which he replied, "They are the brothers of Satan."