As rightly noted by a number of bloggers to my previous article, the recent death of the King of Saudi Arabia exposed the West’s hypocrisy on a number of issues and perhaps what has happened in the UK is of great inspiration to us. While David Cameron took very strong stands, (and in some cases) his decision had indirect influence on us, as was for example the Ched Evans’ case, he had a different discoursefor the deceased Saudi king. The same can be said again for Cameronand his criticism towards Pope Francis regarding Charlie Hebdo. But now, all discourse of political righteousness has been wiped out to move on to real politics and diplomacy. The British flag was at half-mast on all High Commissions. But was not the British High Commissioner in Malta on the forefront of the civil campaign in favour of civil rights or better gay rights? How does the commissioner or his predecessor feel now to have the British flag fly at half-mast for a sovereign who does not want to hear about gay rights? The same could be said of the British Monarchy who happens to be also the head of the Church of England. The Royal Family sent the heir to the throne to Saudi Arabia. When it suits the West, it has a tendency to override righteousness,shrugging it off as a simple idealistic principle.

In contrast, I would like to recount the reaction on the part of some Muslims to the death of the Saudi King. This happened at theAl Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem but the story did not hit the international media. Al Aqsa is the third most important religious centre forSunnis. The Imam there, during the Friday Prayers, praised the King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abulaziz Al Saud. It is an accepted praxis in Islam, as with all religions, to enter into the merits and praise of a “benign but wealthy dictator”. The Imam’s eulogiesfor the deceased king infuriated the mass of believers at prayers and they did not let him finish. He was chased out of the mosque. The congregation accused King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud with complicity in the murder of Syrians, Egyptians and Palestinians.

I think that these two contrasting stories from Britain and Israel can express two different realities that betray the perceived realities that we, in the West, normally construct of what might appear to be just or unjust. Normally, western media depicts believers as insecure and it shows them as trying to cling to a rigid and simplistic faith. In this case, the opposite happened. The worshippers at Al Aqsa Mosque succeeded to show how ineffective our politicians can be.

This protest is a tangible proof that Islam also has its forces of criticism - that is why many protestors end in prison. Even after the death of such a powerful monarch, a number of believers had the courage to express themselves openly.They defied the Western perception,which seesIslam as an accommodating religion where political protest, whenever it happens, is normally associated with oblique actions. They turned the tables upside down. This time, it is our western politicianswho are appearing not allied with the clear forces of logic. The logic of democracy tells you not to ally yourself with dictators. If one projects oneself as the supporter of democracy or liberalism, onecannot ally oneself with a religious tyrant. These stories explain whyreligion may be offering new political experiences to a number of persons. Believers are not stupid as they are normally depicted in the West. Despite the media sponsorship towards a good deal of anti-religious political propaganda, faithis destined to continue to give us surprises. Faithgoes beyond reason or logical cognition and this is why it is still powerful enough to unmask the myths of our pseudo-liberal world.

Thus, the eventsthat happened this week in Greece and again in Saudi Arabia continue to affirm the power of the people. In Greece, the electorate brought into government two political forces, which historically were at loggerheads – the Communists and the Extreme Right. In the twenties, this was the perfect recipe for the creation of a Fascist Party. Today, such a political combination implies a popular stand. I am sure that the European Union is not afraid of a bunch of Communist politicians in Greece. What they are afraid of, is that, what has happened in Greece will become a model for other European Countries to follow. The Centre Parties are no longer in a comfort zone. The people of Europe are fed up of political hypocrisy and double standards. They too, like the Saudi, can start feeling the vengeance of the people.

Putin’s offer for financial help to Greece is bringing a new dimension to the crisis. Beyond the political rhetoric, there is Russia’s legitimate hope to recreate a pre-1914 scenario for Eastern Europe. In this scenario both Russia and Greece feel nearer to each other for cultural-religious reasons. It is not a coincidence that the Socialist and German President of the European Parliament, Martin Schultz, flew to Greece with a reconciliatory message.

As all these events were fast moving forward, news of fresh air came out from two women – Angela Merkel and Michelle Obama. Bothchallenged the cultural forces of the Saudi state and refused to cover their head. However, while Merkel arrived wearing black, Michelle Obama accompanied her husband to Saudi Arabianot wearing black while her female entourage too was without headscarves. The fact Michelle Obama is black might be the reason why this visit has made news. Intentionally or not, this woman ended up sending a very strong message of defiance and its repercussionsare going to be felt on Saudi Arabia. While her husband was more than ready to accommodate the Saudis – like male politicians have the tendency to do – this woman’s behaviour is now being read as a complete no to male political prepotency. Like the protestors at Al Aqsa mosque, Michelle Obama is throwing “the bums out”. Throwing the bums out is a political expression used in America against a political caste that has been too long in power. She has passed the hemlock to all those Saudi politicians who are opposing political change.

The message was well received in Saudi Arabia to the extent that it has been reported that the new king interrupted the meeting with the American President to go to pray. The media will be playing a major role on this closed country. The Saudi king will be facingmore intense anti-establishment feeling. This is destined to grow as this kingdom now risksfalling victim of the laws of unintended consequences. In the twenty-first century small actions are having historical consequences,which were unimaginable in the recent past.