Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MUSCAT1278
2005-08-17 11:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

OMAN ONLINE: TAYBAH, TERROR, AND ISLAMIC EDUCATION

Tags:  KPAO SOCI MU 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

171109Z Aug 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001278 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, IIP/G/NEA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO SOCI MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ONLINE: TAYBAH, TERROR, AND ISLAMIC EDUCATION


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001278

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, IIP/G/NEA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO SOCI MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ONLINE: TAYBAH, TERROR, AND ISLAMIC EDUCATION



1. Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and
"al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-
language fora for political and social discourse in the country,
touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the
conventional media. While not totally free, nor wholly
reflective of Omani public opinion, these popular sites
nevertheless offer a worthwhile window into the hot topics and
unvarnished views of the day. This edition of Oman Online
contains the following topics:

-- "To Taybah al-Ma'wali"
-- Terrorism and Muslims
-- Closing of the Department of Islamic Education & Arabic
Language in the Ministry of Education
-- College of Law Acceptance and Enrollment Rates

End summary.

--------------
Taybah Al-Ma'wali
--------------


2. According to at least one al-Sablah participant, former Majlis
al-Shura member Ms. Taybah Al-Ma'wali is "...an outspoken Omani
citizen known for her charisma and leadership in raising
government awareness about issues related to the daily lives of
Omanis." Ms. Ma'wali, recently sentenced to six months in jail
for criticizing senior officials and spreading false information
via telecommunications, continues to be a hot topic in al-Sablah,
with several ongoing threads of conversation about her case. The
largest dialogue thus far has generated 5,548 hits and 106
responses, almost all of them supporting Ms. Ma'wali. As one
participant put it, "wherever you (Ms. Ma'wali) are, we support
you and are with you in this difficult situation that you are
facing."


3. Other al-Sablah members who feel her punishment was unjust
stated, "We are sorry that a person is punished just for
expressing her views. We are sorry that in this country a person
is penalized just because they want to exercise their humanity
through expressing their feelings." Another member opined:
"Taybah is an Omani woman who has done many things for the Omani
people that men could not do and have not done. For example, she
established the Omani Women's Society prior to joining the Majlis
al-Shura. She was also a very active member in the Majlis al-
Shura working to stop regulations attempting to impose fees for
basic services that would add an economic burden on already poor
Omani families." One al-Sablah member concluded the discussion
stating, "Now freedom of expression in our country has an

expensive price that we must pay if we express any disagreement
with government policies."

--------------
Defining The Word Terrorism
--------------


4. Defining terrorism engendered 191 hits and 17 responses. One
member initiated the topic stating, "Human society is collapsing
into darkness due to the actions taken by individuals who claim
to be working on behalf of humankind but who in fact are working
for personal interest or revenge." Another member added,
"Whenever a crime takes place, the Muslims are accused
immediately for causing it. Yet people ignore that Muslims are
also suffering around the world." Many agreed that, "Islamic
culture is totally against these forms of violence. Yet due to
attacks like these, the rest of the world is unable to truly
understand Islam." Some members contributed that, "While most
Muslims are against the killing of innocents, we also feel that
there is a hidden element involved in these types of attacks
aimed at keeping Arabs and Muslims in constant conflict with the
West." Another member suggested, "After the collapse of
communism, America had to find another enemy and it is Islam."


--------------
Changing Curriculum, Changing Times
--------------


5. Al-Sablah members reported that the Ministry of Education has
decided to discontinue the department responsible for the
development of curricula related to Arabic language and Islamic
education. The subject generated 1,067 hits and 22 responses
that overwhelmingly objected to the decision. Some members
commented, "This should not be a surprise if one remains current
on world politics. It seems everyone is fighting against Islam
because they think it encourages terrorism." Other members
speculated, "Islam is the main source of law and religion in our
country. This is the first time we have heard that our country
willingly chooses to go against its own constitution and
fundamental beliefs in favor of another country's belief system."
Another participant summarized the situation as, "The price of
democracy." Many members who disagreed with the decision
commented, "If this continues, long beards, mosque prayers, and
any thing related to Islam will be prohibited."

--------------
Higher Grades, Lower Acceptance
--------------


6. The issue of unequal acceptance rates for female and male
students into universities and colleges in Oman has long been a
controversial issue in al-Sablah, recently registering 913 hits
and 50 responses. One member stated, "Female students are always
required to achieve higher grades to enroll in college in Oman.
This is unfair, and the Ministry of Higher Education has not
provided a valid justification for their continued discriminatory
acceptance practices." Another member, quoting statistics from a
recent news article, stated "This year the College of Law not
only accepted fewer female students -- 70 males but only 50
females -- but also required significantly higher grades from the
females (93.19% minimum average for females, and 89.06% minimum
average for males)." Other members expressed their frustration
by stating, "Because there are such low acceptance rates into
colleges with specializations such as law, medicine, and
engineering, students are forced to study majors such as
literature, which has no marketability in Oman."

BALTIMORE