The Unthinkable Party: A New Face for the Saudi Kingdom

8. A central element of the criticism focused on what many termed a "double standard" by the religious and political establishment. Observers noted that while the state was sponsoring a Western festival like Halloween, celebrations of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi), which is a common practice in many other Muslim nations, remained restricted or banned in Saudi Arabia due to conservative theological objections. This juxtaposition fueled accusations that the government’s reforms prioritized Western acceptance over local Islamic traditions.