The Unthinkable Party: A New Face for the Saudi Kingdom

4. Historically, Saudi Arabia’s social fabric was tightly woven with interpretations of Islamic law that strictly prohibited non-Islamic festivals and public mixing of unrelated genders. News reports from as recently as 2018 detail police raids on private Halloween gatherings, with attendees facing arrests for participating in what was deemed un-Islamic activity. The transition from active prohibition to full, public, state-sanctioned endorsement is not merely a policy change; it is a seismic cultural shift meant to be seen both by the domestic population and the wider world.