OMAN ONLINE: FEMALE PRAYER LEADER, ACTIVE EMBASSY GRIST

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000466

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI (TROBERTS),NEA/PPD (CWHITTLESEY),NEA/P
(FFINVER),IIP/G/NEA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO SOCI MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ONLINE: FEMALE PRAYER LEADER, ACTIVE EMBASSY GRIST
FOR CHATROOM MILL


1. Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "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:

-- Dr. Amina Wadud to lead prayer before mixed congregants in NY
-- An active Embassy draws comment

End summary.

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Is Oman Ready For A Female Prayer Leader?
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2. Recent postings in "Al-Sablah" carried mixed reactions about
news purporting that an American Muslim Scholar, Dr. Amina Wadud,
intends to lead prayers on Friday, March 18th, 2005 in New York.
The article, which appeared in regional press over the weekend,
was cut and pasted from the privately owned Omani newspaper "al-
Watan" into Al-Sablah. Responses were generally negative. One
Sablah member wrote, "I implore all wise men not to join this
prayer." Another more positive member suggested, "The idea of a
woman prayer leader may invite more crowds of worshippers to
join, which is a good thing." Another Sablah member offered a
strong argument in support of Dr. Wadud as a prayer leader by
offering an alternative interpretation of the role of women found
in the Quran. The conversation closed on a sarcastic note when
one member stated, "If Dr. Wadud is so great, then she should
step forward and ask to lead the prayers in the Sultan Qaboos
Grand Mosque."

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We Must Be Doing Something Right
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3. Al-Sablah recently carried the text of an article published
in the UAE newspaper "al-Khaleej". The article was entitled
"Ministry of Justice organizes an English language course for
Judges." The article referred to a "legal English" language
course offered to Omani judges, taught by an American instructor,
and which is supported by the U.S. Embassy in Muscat. Many
Sablah members reacted strongly against this article. One Sablah
writer wrote, "I wonder if this the beginning of western
interference in Oman, or is this just part of the overwhelming
western presence in the region. Either way, it is indeed
interference, which in Oman is overlooked by some and accepted by
others who wish to benefit from the west."


4. Another Sablah member commented that, "The American Embassy
presides over our celebrations. The American Embassy organizes
seminars for teachers and selects the participants according to
criteria that are not made public knowledge. Nor do we know the
purpose of these courses." This same respondent later commented,
"The U.S. Ambassador is seen all over Oman in our newspapers,
attending seminars and workshops, participating in English
language courses in several schools, acting as if he presides
over everything. The behavior of this Embassy and the U.S.
Ambassador's presence at all these events is unlike all other
diplomatic Missions, even those of Arab countries with diplomatic
missions here." Still other members suggested, "This is
shameless interference in our affairs to which many Omanis have
applauded, either because of ignorance, negligence, or
indifference. Since when have Embassies turned into schools that
teach languages?"


5. Finally, on a more positive note, one Sablah member who has
participated in past Embassy programming commented, "I personally
benefited from the initiatives of the Embassy or "the West",
particularly in the field of law. As a result of my
participation in one of their exchange programs, I am not as
quick to condemn the Embassy's outreach initiatives as some
here." The same participant concluded by challenging al-Sablah
members saying, "If you really want to know what the Embassy is
doing in our community, and why you keep seeing their Ambassador
in our news, contact them, and ask questions! Stop criticizing
automatically, especially when you see them doing positive things
that our government isn't even doing!"

BALTIMORE