COMBATING EXTREMISM: QATAR

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 DOHA 001657

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR R, P AND NEA/PD, NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2010
TAGS: EAID KDEM KPAO PHUM PREL QA ALJAZEERA
SUBJECT: COMBATING EXTREMISM: QATAR

REF: A. DOHA 203

B. DOHA 324

C. DOHA 1226

D. DOHA 910

E. DOHA 561 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Ambassador C. Untermeyer, Reasons 1.4 (b&d)


1. (S) The extent and nature of extremism in Qatar is limited
by several factors. One is Qatar,s considerable wealth,
which enables it to steer clear of the poverty-inspired
extremism affecting poorer nations. Other factors are the
small size of the country (comparable to Connecticut) and
population (less than 800,000 inhabitants, of whom
four-fifths are expatriates). To date, only a handful of
Qatari nationals have been found to participate in
extremist-inspired activities in places such as Iraq and
Afghanistan, and the State Department evaluates the threat of
indigenous terrorism as low in Qatar. The Embassy is aware of
pockets of dissatisfied elements with extremist tendencies
among Qataris and some expatriates here, but these elements
do not appear linked or organized in ways that constitute a
serious threat.


2. (S) U.S. outreach and engagement efforts in Qatar
generally take place in a favorable environment. Bolstered by
the country,s significant wealth (Qatar has the highest GDP
per capita income in the world),the Emir of Qatar has been
driving a broad political and educational modernization
program since 1995.

Host government initiatives
--------------


3. (C) The US plays a unique role as Qatar,s chosen
strategic partner in its national security, industrial
development and education reform plans. As a result, the role
of U.S. outreach and engagement in Qatar is less to provide
inspiration and innovation than it is to facilitate Qatari
initiatives in these areas. The following are some of the
Qatari government initiatives that play an important role in
combating extremism:

Education Reform
--------------


4. (SBU) Revamping of the K-12 curriculum: The Qatari
government has undertaken a sweeping revamping of the
education system in Qatar, analyzing and reissuing text
books, intensifying focus on English language skills, math,
science and critical thinking skills, with a commensurate
decreased emphasis on religious education.


5. (SBU) Recruitment of U.S. college branch campuses: Five
major U.S. colleges (Texas A&M, Weill-Cornell,
Carnegie-Mellon, Virginia Commonwealth University and
Georgetown University) have now established branch campuses
in Doha, bringing a resource-rich U.S.-style education to the
doorstep not just of Qataris and residents of Qatar, but of
nationals and residents throughout the Gulf region.

Political Reform
--------------


6. (C) Increasing opportunities for political participation
and empowerment: Political reforms aligned on the side of
combating extremism have included a recently promulgated
Qatari constitution that includes guarantees of civil rights
and paves the way for the election of a National Advisory
Council of 45 members (two-thirds elected and one-third
appointed by the Emir). Qatari women will vote and compete
on an equal basis with male candidates.

Promoting religious tolerance; fostering debate
-------------- ---


7. (C) Conference for Religious Dialogue (Ref C): Already
known for hosting an annual conference known as the
Muslim-Christian Dialogue since 2003, the government of Qatar
expanded the scope of this conference in 2005 to include for
the first time representatives of the Jewish faith.
Representatives from the three monotheistic religions were
invited, including the Anglican Church, the Coptic Church,
the Orthodox Church, the Vatican and Jewish Rabbis, among
others.


8. (C) Churches in Qatar (Ref D): There are generally
amicable, mutually respectful relations between persons of
differing religious belief in Qatari society. Qatari Muslims
are 90 percent Sunni and 10 percent Shia and there is no
notable friction between the two groups. The majority of
Qatar,s non-citizen population consists of South Asian,
South East Asian or expatriate Arab nationals who represent
the Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Baha,i faiths,
among others. In 2005, the Qatari government signed a
50-year lease with representatives of Christian churches in
Qatar, permitting them to erect six churches on a 500,000
square meter plot of land in Doha.

9. (C) The Doha Debates (Ref E): The state-funded Qatar
Foundation sponsors an ongoing series of public debates,
hosted by BBC veteran talk show host Tim Sebastian. The
debates, which explore issues of topical importance and
general interest (the most recent motion, for the sixth
debate, was: &Arab governments have failed the Palestinian
people8) are recorded and subsequently televised on BBC
World TV. The latest debate will also be broadcast on BBC
World Radio. The debate format pits two prominent speakers
against two others, and after their exchanges, the floor is
opened to the audience, who are local members of the public.
The debates are usually very lively and well-attended, with
considerable audience participation.


10. (C) In February 2005, the Qatari government permitted
Muslim leaders from the Middle East, North Africa and
Indonesia to convene a conference entitled &Global
Anti-Aggression Campaign by Peaceful Means8 (Ref B). The
conference focused on hostility experienced by Islamic
communities in different countries. Several speakers appealed
for the conference to focus on constructive self-examination
of problems and needs within the Islamic community and to
avoid facile attribution of problems to machinations of the
West.

Engagement with Islamists
--------------


11. (C) Qatar is the home-base of Yusuf Al Qaradawi, a
prominent Islamic cleric who hosts a weekly show on the
pan-Arab satellite TV channel Al Jazeera, and whose sermons
often include strident denunciations of U.S. activities and
policies. (Qaradawi has also publicly denounced terrorist
activities such as the 9/11 attacks and the more recent
bombings in London and Sharm Al-Sheikh and labeled Al Qaeda
followers such as Al Zarqawi &criminals.8) Post maintains
an active ongoing dialogue with Al Qaradawi, and also
continually engages conservative and Islamist elements of
Qatari society, including representatives of &Islam
Online,8 the Islamic internet site headquartered in Doha.
Post is also actively engaged with Al Jazeera itself and
pursues a policy aimed at increasing Al Jazeera,s
journalistic professionalism and toning down its sometimes
inflammatory programming.

Terrorism Financing
--------------


12. (C) Qatar has been a full and responsive partner in our
campaigns against terrorism and terrorist financing (Ref A).
Qatar actively seeks U.S. advice and assistance to augment
its anti-terrorism capabilities, strengthen relevant laws,
and enhance intelligence exchange. The government has been
responsive to requests from the U.S. to identify and freeze
assets of organizations and individuals designated as Foreign
Terrorism Organizations. Qatar has also coordinated closely
with the U.S. on centralization and restructuring of
charitable donation oversight.

The Press
--------------


13. (C) The local Qatari press is dominated by the print
media (three Arabic language dailies and two English language
dailies),all of which are often critical of USG policies in
the region and on a global level. Although all publications
foster a limited degree of public debate over internal
governmental policies and some social issues, they also
practice fairly rigorous self-censorship on issues related to
both religion and Qatari foreign policy. The Qatari press in
general provides willing coverage of Embassy activities and
of prepared policy statements from the Ambassador, including
those that promote USG anti-extremism positions. Post has
taken and will continue to take advantage of the platform
provided by local press to engage all elements of Qatari
national and expatriate society, including conservative and
Islamist elements.

Exchange programs
--------------


14. (SBU) Post continues to build its local database of US
alumni among Qatari and long-term expatriate residents of
Qatar. Exchange programs - whether they have a specific
religious tolerance component or not -- are among the most
effective anti-extremism tools available to post: having
Muslim men and women see America and Americans with their own
eyes wins hearts and minds, and each heart and each mind won
in this fashion has a multiplier effect in local society. The
addition of MEPI resources has expanded the resources
available for exchange programs from Qatar, particularly with
regard to women and youth.

15. (C) Embassy comment: Qatar,s high degree of cooperation
and coordination with the U.S. on countering extremism within
its borders is only partially rooted in the Qatari
leadership,s commitment to a long term strategic
relationship with the U.S. It is more deeply rooted in the
clear understanding that their ambitious development
aspirations depend on the maintenance of stability and
security in Qatar and in the Gulf region. Knowing they are
located a very dangerous neighborhood, Qatar,s leaders
maintain a keen focus on security related matters. End
Comment.
UNTERMEYER