 The column by al Almaee challenged the Salafists' rejection of popular religious traditions such as patronising shrines and graves of important Islamic figures.It is speculated that his resignation was related to official displeasure with articles critical of the state's harsh Islamic rules.After Khashoggi's resignation, Bandar bin Khalid al Faisal, the chairman of the newspaper, published a statement and praised him as "a loyal son... who left a clear mark on its ("Al Watan"'s) progress."