by the 1970s, as a result of oil wealth and the modernization of the country initiated by king faisal, important changes to saudi society were under way and the power of the ulema was in decline. however, this changed following the seizure of the grand mosque in mecca in 1979 by islamist radicals. the government's response to the crisis included strengthening the ulema's powers and increasing their financial support: in particular, they were given greater control over the education system and allowed to enforce stricter observance of wahhabi rules of moral and social behaviour. after his accession to the throne in 2005, king abdullah took steps to reduce the powers of the ulema, for instance transferring control over girls' education to the ministry of education.