Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JEDDAH547
2006-08-19 04:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:  

MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA AUGUST 11:

Tags:  KISL PREL SA SCUL 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 JEDDAH 000547 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP;
PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2016
TAGS: KISL PREL SA SCUL
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA AUGUST 11:
OUTRAGE AND CONFLICT BETWEEN ISLAM AND WEST KEYNOTES OF
SERMONS FROM MECCA AND MEDINA

REF: JEDDAH 532

Classified By: Consul General Tatiana Gfoeller, for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 JEDDAH 000547

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP;
PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2016
TAGS: KISL PREL SA SCUL
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA AUGUST 11:
OUTRAGE AND CONFLICT BETWEEN ISLAM AND WEST KEYNOTES OF
SERMONS FROM MECCA AND MEDINA

REF: JEDDAH 532

Classified By: Consul General Tatiana Gfoeller, for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) The war between Islam and the West once again
inspired the sermon from the Grand Mosque in Mecca. However,
this week, Imam Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Mohammed al Talib's
complaints extended far beyond Lebanon and suggest a growing
hostility to Muslim involvement in the "Western-dominated"
international system. In his sermon, al Talib claimed to
trace a thread of anti-Muslim sentiment in Western actions
dating back to the end of World War II and the founding of
the United Nations.

WESTERN POWERS ATTEMPT TO END WAR THROUGH INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATION


2. (U) In his analysis, al Talib told his congregation that
"when the World War came to an end, ... when the West felt
the pain and destruction caused by wars, they were all
convinced that there can be no progress, scientific
development and prosperity that the people aspire to while
guns and cannons are being fired. No home can produce a
scientist while it is witnessing wailing as some of its
members are being killed. At this point," said the imam,
"their wise men called for the establishment of
organizations, commissions, councils and societies and they
strove to lay down treaties, charters and articles that
guarantee for those who join them, freedom from aggression
and war by neighbors."

MUSLIMS JOIN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS BUT ARE MADE THE
VICTIMS OF THE WEST'S CONFLICTS


3. (C) Then, the imam continued by arguing essentially that
the Western nations used the international organizations they
developed to avert conflict among themselves by burying their
historical tensions in joint domination of the Muslim World.
"Many Arab and Muslim countries joined these organizations
and commissions that many thought were seeking to achieve
security and stability. These countries sought to join in
the realization of mankind's security and progress.
...(But,) any observer of the condition of the world

following the establishment of those organization and
commissions does not need a lot of contemplation to realize
that injustice did not decrease after that, nor did bloodshed
and wars stop. But the only change was that there was a
change in the geographical location. The West moved to the
East and colonized the Arab and Muslim countries. Hence,
these institutions' attitude toward the Muslims' issues were
not only that of a mere onlooker but they played the role of
justifying the crime. A few cases of positive interventions
might take place but after it was too late and after creating
a new fait accompli that served the influential countries."

HUMAN RIGHTS NOT ACCORDED TO MUSLIMS


4. (C) The imam proceeded with a direct charge of hypocrisy:
"Much as the institutions in the West theorize about human
rights and expand the concept of justice and equality, the
results are opposite in the Muslim countries, as if there is
an inverse relation between the Western theorization and the
actual reality of the East. The gap cannot be bridged
between the principles of the Western peoples which they are
proud of and the stances of their governments toward Muslim
causes."

WESTERN INTEREST IS TO CURRY FAVOR OF MUSLIMS


5. (U) Al Talib then questioned why the West is hostile to
the Muslim countries. "It is in the interest of Western
governments," he said, "to come closer to the Muslims as
their number exceeds one billion and their countries have
most of the natural resources and fuel of the world. The
Muslim countries are at the intersection of air, land and sea
routes. Furthermore, their sons who migrated to the West
have contributed significantly in the Western universities,
research centers, and laboratories. They were and still are
interested in peaceful coexistence with others.


JEDDAH 00000547 002 OF 003


THE "FEW" ARE THE CULPRITS FOR THIS HOSTILITY.


6. (C) The imam found the cause for this inexplicable
behavior by the West in the actions of the usual
culprits--Jews and anti-Muslim, religious zealots. "Despite
all the factors," the imam argued, "these considerations are
disregarded and they support the Muslim's enemies who
occupied their lands and displaced their people. The enemies
are just a few millions. The Western countries have
preferred to please the few at the expense of the great
resentment of the vast majority of people. They have gained
the enmity of the millions for the sake of the few, who take
and do not give and seek to benefit themselves more than
benefiting others and they look down on all other races."

THE "FEW" INSPIRING RELIGIOUS WAR ON MUSLIMS


7. (C) Al Talib can only find one reason for this irrational
hostility against Muslims--religious animosity. He told the
worshipers: "If these few, who have tipped the scales in
their favor, were right and were just in their issues, this
stance would have been acceptable and reasonable, but if we
contemplate on this equation by the Western governments we
will see that it is not based on the Western countries'
interest except if the intention was motivated by religion or
creed. Many Westerners have stated this and have shown that
these people have a history marked with old enmity and a
series of campaigns and wars."

IMAM DIRECTS CRITICISM AT U.S.


8. (U) Then al Talib condemned the behavior of the United
States and Britain, criticizing the policies of "some
influential governments in the world which have not succeeded
in achieving anything recently except making more enemies and
creating more hatred toward them. ...(T)heir strength and
might will not save them when the situation starts boiling."
He dismissed the arguments of the Western intelligentsia
which questions "How can the West be hated when their
intellectual centers seek to promote human rights, call for
justice and equality, reject violence, terrorism and racial
discrimination and preach tolerant democracy? These
theoreticians," he declared, "may not know that the results
of their meetings and researches reach us here in the East by
force, on board a tank or via the barrel of a cannon."

IMAM WARNS PEOPLE IN THE WEST WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR
THEIR GOVERNMENTS' POLICIES


9. (U) He condemned the use of the veto in international
institutions against Muslim interests. "You must know," he
said, apparently directing his remarks to the world at large,
"that the problem is in the double standard, flagrant
injustices and supporting the wrongdoer." He concluded by
urging people in Western countries to change their biased
attitude toward Muslim issues by changing their leaders and
governments through the ballot box. "Otherwise," he warned,
"everybody will be considered a partner in these acts and
responsible for their consequences."

FROM MEDINA: MUSLIMS SUFFER A CENTURY OF TRIBULATIONS


10. (C) Outrage and anger also suffused the sermon of Sheikh
Hussein Al-Sheikh, Imam of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina
last Friday. Al-Sheikh told his congregation that "for one
century, the Muslim Ummah has been suffering tribulations and
facing aggression and brutality without any consideration for
human rights, human norms, moral criteria or principles
either at the hands of the Zionists or other aggressors. The
Ummah has been searching for the solutions that will raise
them from disgrace, defeat and weakness to the level of
victory, progress and pride."

DEGRADED STATE MAY BE CORRECTED BY RETURNING TO RELIGION


11. (C) The imam's solution to the inferior state of the
Ummah was to "return to the teachings of the Holy Qur'an and
the Sunnah of the Prophet. Through these they will be able
to pinpoint the real causes of their deterioration.
Furthermore, it is in the Holy Qur'an and the Prophet's
Sunnah that they will find the real recipe for changing their

JEDDAH 00000547 003 OF 003


lives and conditions." His admonition continued with the
caution that the resurrection of the Ummah will only be
achieved if "they observe real obedience to their Creator and
His Prophet and sincerely follow them in every small and big
matter." COMMENT: In addition to a call for unity in the
face of a hostile world, this exhortation to follow the
dictates of the religious authorities strengthens the
position of the conservative elements against advocates of
reform and toleration. END COMMENT.

NO REPORT FROM EASTERN PROVINCE


12. (U) No mosque report was received from the Eastern
Province this week.
Gfoeller