Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JEDDAH101
2006-02-01 14:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:  

MOSQUE SERMONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA: DENMARK BASHING

Tags:  KISL PTER PREL SA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8827
PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHMOS RUEHPW
DE RUEHJI #0101/01 0321448
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011448Z FEB 06
FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8751
INFO RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 6110
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
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

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