King angry at being praised

THE king of Saudi Arabia has demanded action be taken over a newspaper whose over-enthusiastic columnist equated the 81-year-old with God, local media reported yesterday.

Salman bin Abdulaziz has frequently been lauded, in traditional deference to authority, since he took office in 2015.

But Ramadan al-anzi’s column in al-jazirah newspaper, describing him as “Haleem”, or forbearing, and “Shadeed al-eqab”, strict in punishment – both terms associated in Islam with God –appeared to have gone too far as attributing divine qualities or giving individuals any of the 99 names of God is frowned upon in the kingdom.

Media reports said the king was “distressed” and “astonished by some of the phrases used in the column”. It is not known what action will be taken.