SALAFIS ANNOUNCE POLITICAL PARTY; EMBASSY PRESENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000405

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2015
TAGS: KISL PREL KU ISLAMISTS
SUBJECT: SALAFIS ANNOUNCE POLITICAL PARTY; EMBASSY PRESENCE
PROVOKES FIRESTORM FROM LIBERALS

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: The presence of Embassy personnel at a press
conference held by prominent Salafis to announce the
establishment of the Hizb Al-Ummah (People's Party or
Nation's Party) on January 29 provoked a firestorm of
complaints from liberal Kuwaitis, and a complaint from the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Many Embassy contacts unhappy
with photos published in local news dailies showing an
Embassy political officer shaking hands with party officials
called the Embassy on January 30 to express their
disappointment. The announcement of the party (a first for
Kuwait) comes at a time of increasing tension between
Islamist and progressive factions of Kuwaiti society. End
Summary.

Press Conference Announces Islamic Nation's Party
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Prominent Salafists, including the very recently
former Secretary General of the Salafi Movement, (aka
Scientific Salafis),Hakem Al-Mutairi, held a press
conference on January 29 announcing the establishment of the
Hizb Al-Ummah (People's Party or Nation's Party). The new
party leadership, in letters sent to Prime Minister Shaykh
Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah and Speaker of the National Assembly
Jassem Al-Khorafi, implored the GOK to amend legislation to
allow for the establishment of official political parties.
(Note: Political parties are neither prohibited nor allowed
by the Constitution, but the government refuses to recognize
them; in practice, political "groupings" or "movements" have
served as de facto parties in Kuwait since the establishment
of the National Assembly in 1962. End Note.)


3. (C) Copies of the party platform obtained at the press
conference call for, among other things, the adoption of
Sharia law as the sole source of legislation in Kuwait (Note:
Currently, the Constitution specifies Sharia as "a main
source of legislation." The adoption of Sharia as the sole
source has been a long-standing goal of Kuwaiti Islamists.
End Note.). The platform also called for the right to
political pluralism and the peaceful transfer of power, Islam
as religion and state, open dialogue between political
factions and the right to "reject all forms of foreign
occupation," a thinly veiled criticism of the U.S. presence
in Kuwait.

Just A Handshake and a Photo
--------------


4. (C) An Embassy political offficer and the political
assistant attended the widely publicized press conference as
observers only but were publicly recognized by the speakers
at the end of the presentation, drawing focused media
attention when they stopped to shake hands with the event's
hosts. The resulting January 30 photos in local dailies and
short spots on Al-Jazeera prompted liberal contacts,
including former Ambassador to the U.S., Shaykh Saud Nasser
Al-Sabah, to contact the Embassy on January 30 to voice their
displeasure at the perception that the Embassy was endorsing
an Islamist political party.


5. (C) MFA Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah called the
Ambassador to "convey our worry and concern" about the
presence of an Embassy officer at the event of the
"unlicensed" organization. He asked for clarification that
he could share with the Foreign Minister. Ambassador faxed
Jarallah the text of press guidance that was used with
Kuwaiti dailies on Jan. 30. Text: "The Embassy has received
inquiries about the attendance of an Embassy officer at an
event on January 29 sponsored by a group calling itself the
Hizb Al-Ummah. Embassy officers meet with a wide spectrum of
groups and individuals in Kuwait in order to gain an
understanding of current developments. Attendance at the
particular event should not be misinterpreted as an
endorsement of the group or its objectives.
LEBARON