Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05OTTAWA1488
2005-05-17 19:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:  

RESPONDING TO ALLEGATIONS OF QURAN DESECRATION AT

Tags:  KPAO KISL PREL 
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171928Z May 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 001488 

SIPDIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 088240

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KISL PREL
SUBJECT: RESPONDING TO ALLEGATIONS OF QURAN DESECRATION AT
GUANTANAMO


STATE 90992; OTTAWA 02731 (04)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 001488

SIPDIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 088240

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KISL PREL
SUBJECT: RESPONDING TO ALLEGATIONS OF QURAN DESECRATION AT
GUANTANAMO


STATE 90992; OTTAWA 02731 (04)


1. Canadian media treatment: National media in Canada
carried stories beginning May 11 of rioting in Kabul that
resulted from the Newsweek report. Canadian media have
followed the story with scrupulously "straight" reporting,
primarily from international wire services and U.S. media,
prominently noting DOD statements and Secretary Rice's on-
the-record statement of May 13. All national media in
Canada prominently report Newsweek's retraction on May 17.
Indeed, Canadian media reporting as of May 17 is most
focused on Newsweek's lack of responsibility and the state
of American journalism, comparing the Newsweek report to CBS
News reports of last autumn. Even the free-of-charge
broadsheets distributed on the streets of Vancouver carry
stories May 17 about Newsweek's Sunday apology. In short,
Canadian media outlets have provided similar wide coverage
to Newsweek's retraction as was given to the original
allegations.


2. Reporting on the Sponsorship Scandal and a looming
confidence vote for the Liberal minority government in
Canada have pushed all international and bilateral stories
to the inside pages and to the middle of broadcasts. That
perhaps has prevented the Quran desecration allegations from
becoming an overwhelming public issue in Canada.



3. Community Reaction: Reaction in Canada's large and
significant Muslim communities also appears to have been
muted, at least so far. Nevertheless, the Mission's Public
Affairs offices have undertaken a number of direct efforts
to reach out to significant Muslim community leaders and
community media.


4. PA Ottawa sent the texts of Secretary Rice's statement on
May 13 to the President of the Progressive Muslims
Association of Ottawa with a courtesy note, expressing
regret over violence the story had caused in the Middle East
and expressing our profound respect for all religions,
including Islam. PAO met with him and the Ottawa Imam at a
previously scheduled social event May 14; both were
typically courteous and friendly, neither of them raised the
allegations.


5. PA Montreal sent the text of the Newsweek retraction and
Editor Mark Whitaker's May 16 "From the Editor's Desk"
article to 28 contacts in Montreal's Muslim community,
including media outlets, Radio Middle East, the Maghreb
Observateur, and Al Ahram Canada, as well as the Muslim
Council of Montreal, the Algerian Cultural Center and the
Canadian Council of Muslim Women. PAO Montreal forwarded
these under a cover note expressing appreciation for their
consideration of the retraction, and regretting the violence
that the initial story had provoked. Consulate Montreal is
currently organizing follow-up in its regular outreach
program to the Muslim community and will have opportunities
to discuss the situation further over the next several days.


6. PA Vancouver has engaged a contact at Vancouver's leading
mosque who is working in the community to help create inter-
religious understanding. PA Vancouver forwarded Secretary
Rice's statement to this contact, who also works for the
Vancouver Imam. PA Vancouver has also forwarded Secretary
Rice's statement and the Newsweek retraction to the editor
of the Vancouver Muslim community newspaper, "The Miracle."


7. Comment. Allegations of desecration of the Holy Quran
have not become a major public affairs issue for the U.S. in
Canada. Nevertheless, it underlines the importance of
continuing to reach out to contacts in Canada's Muslim
communities. In fact, this has given us an opportunity to
take the initiative in discussing Americans' sincere respect
for religion and the seriousness with which the U.S.
government takes such a