Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JEDDAH645
2006-10-10 12:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
LETTER FROM OIC SECGEN REGARDING "DESECRATION OF
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UNCLAS JEDDAH 000645
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KISL OPDC PREL SA
SUBJECT: LETTER FROM OIC SECGEN REGARDING "DESECRATION OF
MUSLIM CEMETERY IN JERUSALEM"
UNCLAS JEDDAH 000645
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KISL OPDC PREL SA
SUBJECT: LETTER FROM OIC SECGEN REGARDING "DESECRATION OF
MUSLIM CEMETERY IN JERUSALEM"
¶1. (U) The following letter, dated October 5, 2006, was
delivered to AMCON Jeddah. It is from the Secretary General
of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to the
Secretary of State, and condemns the alleged destruction of
SIPDIS
the cemetery of Mamella, an ancient Muslim cemetery, in
Jerusalem. The OIC requests the Secretary's support in
halting Israel's project to erect the "Museum of Tolerance"
and "Center of Human Dignity" on the site.
¶2. (U) Begin letter text:
Excellency,
I would like to bring to your kind attention the profound
concern of the OIC with regard to the recent Israeli
desecration of the ancient Muslim cemetery of Mamella
(Mamanulla) in Jerusalem. This cemetery, which has the
status of Muslim endowment, is the burial place for highly
venerated Islamic religious figures some of whom have been
buried therein for more than fourteen centuries.
Disrespectful to the feelings of more than one billion
Muslims and the dignity of hundreds of long-time deceased
figures, Israel ravaged the cemetery of Mamella (Mamanulla)
with the intent of erecting on its site what it ironically
named the "Museum of Tolerance" and the "Center of Human
Dignity." The project is partially funded by a number of
American institutions and individuals such as Governor of
California Arnold Schwarzenegger. We consider this Israeli
act as sacrilegious, inflammatory, provocative, and
susceptible to unleash feelings of anger and hatred.
The Israeli sacrilegious act is an attempt to obfuscate a
sanctuary considered to represent a valued heritage of
humanity that should rather be protected. This project is
also designed to alter the indigenous historic character of
the city of Jerusalem. Moreover, it is a flagrant aggression
on the ages-long Islamic endowment establishment.
We, at the Organization of the Islamic Conference, believe
that the Israeli act should not be tolerated. Therefore, I
would like to call upon Your Excellency to use your good
offices to put pressure to bear on the Israeli government to
stop its profane project and to refrain from carrying out
such provocative and antagonizing acts.
I avail myself this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency
my highest consideration.
Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu
Secretary General
SIPDIS
End Letter Text.
TONEY