MOSQUE SERMONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA, MAY 19: EASTERN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000389

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2016
TAGS: KISL PREL SA SCUL
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA, MAY 19: EASTERN
IMAM RAILS AGAINST WOMEN'S LIBERATION AND CRUSADERS IN
ARABIA; WESTERN IMAMS CALL FOR SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND
TRUST IN GOD


Classified By: Acting Consul General Hector Morales, for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

FROM THE EASTERN PROVINCE: FULMINATIONS AGAINST THE MODERN
WORLD AND ESPECIALLY WOMEN'S RIGHTS


1. (C) On May 19, Sahikh Mohammad al-Qahtani spoke at the
Imam Ahmad bin Habal Mosque in al-Khobar to a congregation of
more than 500 worshippers. NOTE: In the opinion of our
source, this was one of the strongest sermons the imam has
delivered. It was Saudi-specific, and the imam explicitly
condemned powerful Saudi figures, including Prince al-Waleed
bin Talal, Lubna Olayan and others, whom the religious right
considers liberal or secular. The imam's criticisms extended
to the government and the establishment, and, in the opinion
of the source, may land him in trouble with the authorities.
His most extreme criticism was his condemnation of the Saudi
government for inviting American and allied troops to protect
Saudi Arabia against Saddam's threats in 1990. END NOTE.


2. (C) As is the imam's custom, his sermon started off
quietly, with an indictment of those who would "commercialize
the Shari'ah," "Some people," he complained, "use Islamic
Shari'ah as cover for other 'worldly' purposes, whether it's
to market something or is an attempt to legitimize an action
or a decision."

INDICTMENT OF WOMEN'S LIBERATION


3. (C) His rhetoric quickly escalated as he denounced
newspapers, and especially satellite television for running
stories and airing programs under the pretext of "women's
liberation." According to the imam, these did the opposite
and damaged the image of women and their place in the
community. He exclaimed that "They" have been trying very
hard to sow discord among Muslim communities. He traced the
trend back to the women's liberation movement in Egypt in
1919 and connected it to the spread of communism and
socialism in later decades. He denounced several Egyptian
writers from the 1950's through the 1970's who had written
books advocating women's liberation.

DENUNCIATION OF GOVERNMENT FOR ADMITTING CRUSADERS


4. (C) Then his diatribe reached its peak as he announced
the cause for this iniquitous state. "Fifteen years ago,
this was a country where men would never dare organize a
demonstration or even squeak a word for fear of being
arrested, yet a group of women managed it. You know why?
The very presence of the crusader army on the Land of the Two
Holy Mosques acted as a catalyst. It helped give the women
newly found courage, which they never had. No doubt, others
were also behind those women. These women showed defiance
and contempt. They got behind the wheels of cars that had
been left for them and drove on the streets of our capital
city as if it's the normal thing to do!"

WICKEDNESS IN SAUDI ARABIA


5. (C) "Now," he went on, "we have people who brag about the
first Saudi woman pilot, the first Saudi woman rally driver,
and so on. The pilot's photo meeting her benefactor was
published across the pages of Saudi papers for all to see,
and the rally driver was featured in a TV program. How do we
know what the pilot will be doing when she travels abroad in
the company of total strangers? The list goes on. There are
people who encourage women to participate in conferences and
meetings. Let's take the example of economic conferences.
Can you explain to me why is it the conference is held in
Europe when it should have been held here where the economy
is? How about the increasing number of Saudi women who leave
their abayas behind and appear in public, even on TV for all
to see! Is this what they want? Or what we want? I recall
a statement Mr. Abd al-Rahman al-Jeraisy (Head of the Riyadh
Chamber of Commerce) made after one of these conferences,
when he described the conference more like a women's fashion
show! If they are concerned about women's issues, why don't
they stand up and defend older women, widows and divorcees?
These are the women who need protection. If that is not
enough, we have women appearing in public with make-up on

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their faces! Why is it a woman TV hostess spends three hours
on make-up when her program is actually a few minutes long?
Look at negative attitude toward the Committee for the
Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. They paint
negative pictures about them. It is disgusting."

PUTTING PROFIT BEFORE THE PROPHET


6. (C) The imam concluded with another attack against those
he accused of using the Shari'ah too liberally. "How do you
know," he announced, "the meat you buy is halal (Prepared in
compliance with Islamic requirements.) even though it's
properly labeled in accordance with Islamic Shari'ah? The
word is that $50.00 a head will get you the label but not
necessarily the halal meat, and this is what some Muslims are
doing in Europe. Everything is labeled correctly but the
service or the product itself are far from being Islamic."

FROM MECCA: IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR HARRIED
STUDENTS


7. (U) At the time when Saudi students are facing the ordeal
of final examinations, Shaykh Salih Al Talib, preaching from
the Holy Mosque in Mecca, devoted his sermon to education.
He proclaimed that education was important to all nations and
final exams were an important matter for students. He warned
students, rather belatedly, that they should study hard from
the first day of class and not wait until the time for
examinations was upon them. He also cautioned against
fatigue from late night studying and taking stimulants.
Showing compassion, he comforted anxious students by saying
exams are not the end of the world. It is possible to
recover from failure. "Students should see examinations," he
said, "as an opportunity to excel and do their best."

ROLE OF GOD IN EDUCATION


8. (U) The imam's second sermon was similar to the first.
He told the congregation: "Exams are an opportunity for the
serious ones to train themselves and their children and to
establish a link with God Almighty by resorting to Him and
showing the need for Him. No matter how smart a student is,
he needs success from God Almighty." He ended with a prayer
beseeching God's assistance for students.

FROM MEDINA: FEAR GOD AND PLACE TRUST IN HIM


6. At the Prophet's Mosque in Medina on May 19, Shaykh
Abd-al-Mushsin Bin-Muhammad al-Qasim offered a lesson without
a specific target, simply admonishing the worshipers to "fear
God and the punishment of those who disobey God." His second
sermon reprised the homily, assuring those present that:
"Whoever fears God, no one harms him. And whoever fears any
other, no one benefits him. Surrendering to God and placing
trust in Him, removes fear from human beings." He concluded
with the usual prayer: "God, support Islam and Muslims,
humble non-belief and unbelievers, destroy the enemies of
religion, and make this and other Muslim countries safe and
secure."
Morales