MOSQUE SERMONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA: DENMARK BASHING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000101 SIPDIS SIPDIS RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR TSOU; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2016 TAGS: KISL PTER PREL SA SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA: DENMARK BASHING CONTINUES Classified By: CONSUL GENERAL TATIANA GFOELLER FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d). IN MECCA, CARTOONS REMAIN CENTER STAGE ¶1. (U) For the second straight week, cartoons run in Danish and Norwegian newspapers allegedly "vilifying" the Prophet Muhammad took center stage at Friday sermons in Saudi Arabia. On January 28, the Jeddah-based "Arab News" reported that "imams of mosques across the Kingdom yesterday denounced Danish and Norwegian newspapers that published cartoons tarnishing the image of the Prophet Muhammad and urged Islamic countries to confront such hostile campaigns." The "Arab News" reported that Shaykh Osama Khayyat delivered a Friday, January 27 sermon at the Grand Mosque in Mecca that "emphasized the lofty position of the Prophet in the minds of Muslims." Calling the cartoons "blasphemous," he praised the SAG's response to the controversy. "This goodly government has warmed our hearts with its clear Islamic stance. It showed its extreme displeasure, did justice to the prophet and warned of the dangers of continuing this grave hostile path," he said. IN MEDINA, CALLING UPON ISLAMIC WORLD TO CONDEMN CARTOONS OF MUHAMMAD ¶2. (U) The "Arab News" reported that Shaykh Ali al-Hudaify delivered a January 27 sermon at the Prophet's Mosque in Medina "also centered on the cartoon issue." The imam said mockery of Muhammad "would be considered a mockery of other prophets such as Moses, Jesus, and Abraham." He called on the Muslim world to make its condemnation of the cartoons clear. "We call upon governments, organizations, and scholars in the Islamic world to extend support for campaigns protesting the sacrilegious attacks on the Prophet. They should also highlight the danger posed by such vilification, using international forums and information media," the imam concluded. IN EASTERN PROVINCE, IMAM ADDRESSES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ¶3. (C) At the Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Mosque in Khobar, Shaykh al-Qahtani delivered a January 27 sermon criticizing what he termed as "Western indifference" to the cartoon controversy and called for a boycott of countries that either "encourage" such "attacks" or do nothing to stop them. Addressing the issue of freedom of expression and citing historical incidents where Christians allegedly attacked Islam and Muslims, al-Qahtani alleged Western double standards on the issue and attempted to link the issue to Israel. "When Islam and Muslims are the target of an attack, any attack, the West will, of course, do nothing. The West prefers to call Muslim bashing 'free speech.' On the other hand, God help anyone who dares speak ill of, criticize or attack the Holocaust, World Jewry, Judaism, or even the state of Israel," he railed. "Not only is it taboo to criticize them, but it is criminal to question anything that may be connected to anything Jewish, no matter how remotely," he continued, adding that the West had "vehemently defended" British author Salman Rushdie in a similar controversy. ¶4. (C) The imam also faulted Arabs and Muslims for their response to the issue, declaring he is "quite disappointed." "With the exception of Saudi Arabia, which has recalled its ambassador to Denmark, our Muslim and Arab brothers have nothing to show for the anger of their people," he added. The imam urged Muslims to take action: "Do not confine yourselves to the actions of your governments. Take the initiative. A country called Denmark has attacked our most prized possession- our faith- and this should not go unpunished. This country has also mocked the Prophet Muhammad, God's last prophet on Earth." He told the congregants to hit Denmark in the pocketbook: "Economic boycott is the way to punish countries that mock our faith. Let's hit them where it hurts most: money. I do not believe people will go hungry if households across the land start doing away with "Nido" milk (NOTE: While many Saudis believe "Nido" is a Danish product, the "Arab News" reported on January 31 that it is not Danish and that consumers are boycotting products that are not Danish out of confusion. END NOTE). Money is what some people worship. And money shall be our weapon of choice. Denmark's ambassador in Riyadh understands this. He realizes the kind of predicament his country has put itself in. That's why he's been busy lately trying to make amends and to repair his country's JEDDAH 00000101 002 OF 002 image." ¶5. (C) Finally, the imam sent a message to Saudi Arabia's terrorists. He told them they are better off "expanding their tremendous energy and brainpower" at home in the service of Islam "to defend Islam and the Prophet Muhammad." He concluded that Saudi terrorists should refrain from targeting the country's security officers, and instead "promote better understanding with members of other faiths through persuasion and acts of kindness done in good faith." IN JEDDAH, RESPECT OF PROPHET IS STRESSED ¶6. (C) Poloff attended a January 27 sermon at a Jeddah Mosque located on King Abdulaziz Road, one of the city's main thoroughfares. According to a Saudi acquaintance at the mosque, Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal was also in attendance. The sermon stressed the importance of respecting the Prophet Muhammad, and his message. Poloff's Saudi acquaintance stated that the imam "didn't mention Denmark by name, but we all know what he is talking about." Other Consulate contacts told Poloff that Friday sermons in their mosques also focused on the cartoon controversy. ¶7. (C) NOTE: Poloff's Saudi acquaintance brought his young female cousin, who appeared to be 10 or 11, with him to the mosque, which did not have a women's section. "She came over and said she wants to go with me, so I brought her," he said. While Saudi contacts told Poloff that most Saudis believe it is permissible to bring girls to the men's sections of mosques until they become teenagers, this was the first instance in over a year that Poloff has seen a female in the men's section of a Saudi mosque. The Saudi acquaintance stated he was happy she had come along, and no one in the congregation seemed to take notice. END NOTE. Gfoeller