RELIGIOUS LEADERS DISCUSS QU'RAN DESECRATION

1. (SBU) DURING A MEETING MAY 24 WITH UAE RELIGIOUS ADVISOR,
DR. ALI AL HASHEMI, AND A MEETING MAY 31 WITH MINISTRY OF
JUSTICE UNDER SECRETARY FOR ISLAMIC AFFAIRS, DR. MOHAMED JUMA
AL MEHAIRI, POL CHIEF DISCUSSED THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE
DESECRATION OF THE HOLY QU'RAN AT THE DETENTION FACILITY AT
GUANTANAMO BAY. BOTH AL HASHEMI AND AL MEHAIRI CALLED THE
DESECRATION INCIDENTS ACTS BY "IRRESPONSIBLE" PEOPLE. THEY
SAID THAT THE USG WAS NOT TO BLAME, BUT IT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, INCLUDING RELIGIOUS RIGHTS.
THEY CALLED FOR THE PROSECUTION OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
FOUND RESPONSIBLE FOR DESECRATING THE QU'RAN. POL CHIEF
PROVIDED COPIES OF THE SECRETARY'S MAY 12 REMARKS ON RESPECT
FOR THE QU'RAN. BOTH OFFICIALS APPLAUDED THE USG'S
CONDEMNATION OF THESE ACTIONS. THE AMBASSADOR HAD DISCUSSED
THE ALLEGATION THAT THE QU'RAN HAD BEEN DESECRATED AND THE
SECRETARY'S REMARKS WITH MFA UNDER SECRETARY ABDULLAH RASHID AL

SIPDIS
NOAIMI ON MAY 14 (REF C).



2. (SBU) THE VISITS TO MEET WITH THE RELIGIOUS ADVISOR AND THE
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE'S UNDER SECRETARY FOR ISLAMIC AFFAIRS WERE
PLANNED AS PART OF OUR ONGOING OUTREACH TO THE DIFFERENT
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES AND AS PART OF OUR PREPARATION OF THE
ANNUAL REPORT ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE UAE. POL CHIEF AND
POL ASSISTANT NOTED THE UAE'S RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, AND
EXPRESSED OUR INTEREST IN MAINTAINING A DIALOGUE WITH RELIGIOUS
AFFAIRS OFFICIALS.

SISON