Saudis Take a Small Dose of Democracy
Khalid Agami, a jocular Saudi man with a wispy beard and wire-rimmed spectacles, has variously been professor, prisoner, father and grandfather during his 57 years. Now he has become something entirely new — a candidate. Agami is running for office in November as part of a cautious experiment by the Saudi royal family. For the first time in 41 years, it is allowing elections, local ones, that will fill half the seats on 178 municipal councils.Full Story