Modest Steps Toward Social Reform

摘要

Two months after Saudi Arabia's King Salman named his reform-minded son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), as crown prince, there are clear signs of social liberalization in the conservative kingdom. Across the country, an increasing number of cafes and restaurants are allowing unrelated men and women to sit in the same area and mingle, a taboo practice that was much less frequent two years ago. "See - no curtain dividing the family section and single men's section," said an owner of a newly opened pizza restaurant in the Eastern Province. "Regulations have changed; the new leadership wants to train people to mix."