The crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohamed bin Salmán, has affirmed this Monday that "there is no difference" between men and women and has defended that the latter can choose whether or not they want to wear the abaya -a traditional black dress that covers the body.

"We are all human beings and there is no difference," said Bin Salmán after being asked if there are differences between men and women during an interview with the American television network CBS.

In it, he highlighted that the seizure of the Great Mosque of Mecca by Salafists in 1979 led the country to a process of religious radicalization that caused the segregation of women.

"That's not the real Saudi Arabia," he said, before adding that before then "a very normal life was lived" and "women drove." "There were cinemas in Saudi Arabia. Women worked everywhere," he stressed.

Thus, he has stressed that the authorities "have given new rights" to women "to make it easier for them to start a business, join the Army, attend concerts and sporting events." "From June they will be able to drive," he stressed.

In this sense, Bin Salmán has accused "extremists" of "prohibiting mixing the sexes" and has pointed out that "many of these ideas contradict the way of life during the times of the prophet (Muhammad) and the caliphs".

"The laws are very clear and stipulated in the 'sharia': that women wear decent and respectful clothes, the same as men. An 'abaya' or a black scarf is not specifically specified. Women must decide what type of decent and respectful clothing wants to wear", he stressed.

On the other hand, he has revealed that the authorities are working "to introduce a regulation that guarantees equal payments for men and women", before acknowledging that "women still do not have all their rights" in the country.

"There are rights stipulated in Islam that they still do not have. We have come a long way, and there is still a short way to go," stressed the Saudi crown prince, one of the most influential figures in the country.

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ADVOCATES A MODERATE ISLAM

Bin Salmán himself promised months ago a "moderate and open" Islam in the country, dominated by Wahhabism, an extremely conservative branch within Sunnism. "We are going back to what we were, a country of moderate Islam that is open to all religions of the world," he said.

In recent months, different official bodies, such as the Ministry of Justice, have opened selection processes for women to work in them for the first time in the country's history.

Likewise, at the end of October the authorities announced that they would allow women to enter the country's stadiums and other sports facilities from 2018, emphasizing that they "will be rehabilitated to receive families." The first match with fans was held in January.

Despite the reforms, women continue to face numerous restrictions in the country, especially related to the way they dress, their social relationships with other men and the need for authorization from a 'guardian' to travel, work or go to a medical center.

The Wahhabi doctrine prevails in the country, a religious current belonging to the Sunni branch of Islam inspired by the teachings of Muhamad ibn Abdel Wahab, who formulated a rigorous application of religion based solely on the Koran and the 'hadiths' (traditions related to the teachings and acts of Mohammed and his disciples) and praised the violent 'jihad' as opposed to the internalized one.

Wahhabism is applied as a state religion --despite being considered almost heretical by multiple Muslim currents-- based on the political-religious union between Abdel Wahab and the Al Saud tribe, which would take power in the Arabian Peninsula and would create the current state.

Wahhabism has given rise to some of the most active Sunni extremist groups today, such as the terrorist organization Al Qaeda and other Salafist organizations.