FACE OFF--AMERICAN AND KUWAITI WOMEN MEET ON THE BASKETBALL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 002116

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP (DBERNS),NEA/PPD (DBENZE, CWHITTLESEY, PAGNEW),
ECA/PE/C/CU (KWAINSCOTT),ECA (NBISHOP)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL KISL PHUM KMDR ZP KU ISLAMISTS
SUBJECT: FACE OFF--AMERICAN AND KUWAITI WOMEN MEET ON THE BASKETBALL
COURT

REF: 05 KUWAIT 2996


1. Summary: Embassy Kuwait arranged a rematch between Camp
Arifjan's American military women's basketball team and Kuwait's
Al-Fatat Sports Club women's team on Thursday, April 27, 2006. The
American team defeated the Kuwaiti team on its home court in this
second in a series of friendship games, leading by a score of 71-64.
Participants and more than 200 observers praised both sides for the
public display of sportsmanship, teamwork and camaraderie. On the
heels of initially positive media coverage, Islamists blasted the
event in the press, subjecting the Embassy to severe criticism for
arranging the competition and allegedly displaying insensitivity to
Islamic and Kuwaiti culture. Despite the condemnation from certain
quarters, the two teams have agreed to future competitive events.
Kuwaiti women and their daughters who want to be able to engage in
athletic competition very much want, and deserve, our continued
support. End Summary.

Building Friendship through Sports
--------------


2. The basketball team from Kuwait's Al-Fatat women's sports club
hosted the American military women's team from Camp Arifjan on
Thursday, April 27, 2006. The game was arranged through the Public
Affairs sections of the U.S. Embassy and the Coalition Forces Land
Component Command (CFLCC). This game was a rematch of the Al-Fatat
v. Arifjan match-up held in June, 2005 (which ended 38-37 in favor
of the Americans, see reftel).


3. The game featured a high-level of play and camaraderie between
the two teams. The Kuwaiti team, half of their players in hejab and
their blue and orange uniforms, faced off against the blue and
red-uniformed Americans in a see-saw battle that ended in a 71-64
victory for the American team. Following the game, players from
both sides took pictures together and celebrated their common love
of the sport at a light buffet reception.

High-level Support for Women in Sports
--------------


4. Ambassador and Mrs. LeBaron cheered on the players as did U.S.
Major General James A. Kelley (Third Army Deputy Commander),Kuwaiti
Brigadier General Khaleel Al-Shamali, Sheikha Fareeha Al-Sabah, and
Ms. Fadhila Al-Shwailan, Chairwoman of Al-Fatat Sports Club.
Following the game, the Ambassador presented the players with
Embassy gifts, General Kelley presented military coins and Sheikha
Fareeha presented medals on behalf of the hosts. Al-Fatat Club
chairwoman Fadhila Al-Shwailan also presented gifts to the
Ambassador and General Kelley on behalf of the club.


5. The comments following the game from both teams were
overwhelmingly positive. One Kuwaiti girl said that she "loved
playing against the Americans because that improved the skills of
the Kuwaitis." Both sides agreed that such events allowed the "two
sides to get to know one another better and increase the friendship"
between the players. One Kuwaiti player summed up the evening,
saying, "We love playing the Americans and we hope to do it again.
It was a great game."

Islamists Cry "Foul"
--------------


6. In general, press reporting of the game was accurate and
positive; however, Islamists used the sporting event to lash out at
the Embassy, filing columns and op-eds accusing the U.S. of forcibly
imposing western values on Kuwaitis. The furor began in Al-Watan
daily Arabic newspaper, which ran both the positive story and the
criticism on the top half of the front page with a color photo on
April 30.

Post-Game Hoopla
--------------


7. Al-Watan, p. 61, 4/30/06:
--Headline: Al-Khanna (Salafi Kuwaiti MP Fahd Al-Khanna): Why do
the Americans meddle with our affairs?
--Al-Khanna said to Al-Watan that "taking such matters lightly and
not considering the rules of Islamic Shari'a and the traditions of
Kuwaitis is an irritating gesture that challenges the core values of
Kuwaiti society. The Ministry of Affairs should have complied and
made sure that all organizations under it complied by not mixing men
and women and not having women appear before men and men appearing
before women as well as adhering to the proper dress code. Al-Khanna
also wondered what the commander of the American force has to do
with such an event and asked 'What is the story with these people
meddling with our affairs? And, is there an agenda to erase the
conservative Kuwaiti identity and replace it?'"


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8. Al-Watan, front page, 5/1/06, By Yousef Al-Nassar:
--Headline: Walid Al-Osaimi (tribal MP) to the American Ambassador:
We did not and will not veil your women, why do you want to dress
our women in shorts?
--"MP Walid Al-Osaimi strongly criticized the Al-Fatat club's
hosting of a women's basketball match with a team of American women
that was attended by the American Ambassador and a group of men.
Kuwait and its people respect the United States of America and in
return the United States of America should respect the privacy of
the Kuwait society and not impose western values, which are seen by
most Kuwaitis as contradictory to the religion of the country and
the traditions of Kuwaiti society. Al-Osaimi addressed the American
Ambassador saying 'You should not forget that Kuwaitis did not and
will not make American women wear the veil, and so you should not
try to dress our women in shorts.' He also expressed his contempt
for the fact that such shallow event took place under the auspices
of respected persons, calling it an attempt to westernize the
society and a state-sponsored offense on morals. Al-Osaimi demanded
that the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Shaykh Al Al-Jarrah
Al-Sabah take the necessary steps and clearly prevent such unnatural
events from taking place."


9. Al-Seyassah, front page, 5/1/06, By Salim Al-Wawan, Raid Yousef,
Khalid Al-Hajry, and Badr Al-Omran:
--Headline: Sharar on the government's withdrawal of the "five":
The Ministerial committee's report is the deciding factor and the
decision is tomorrow
--"MP Dr. Faisal Al-Muslim launched a violent attack yesterday
against the use of women's sports in demeaning ways. He pointed to
the basketball game between American girls with the girls of
Al-Fatat sports club. He stated that the organizers of such an event
violated the traditions and values as well as all rules of Shari'a,
especially since it occurred in the presence of men amongst them the
American Ambassador and other officials. He added that the American
Embassy's press release expresses the uncontrollable urge to
westernize Kuwaiti society under the auspices of leading figures in
the country calling for a strong governmental position against such
practices."


10. Al-Watan, p. 12, 05/03/06:
"The chairman of the Kuwaiti Society for Fundamental Human Rights
Dr. Adel Al-Damkhy rejected Kuwaiti women's participation in
basketball games attended by a group of men from the American
Embassy and some Kuwaiti officials citing religious and national
reasons. According to Dr. Al-Damkhy, 'article 17 of the Organization
of Islamic Conference's declaration on human rights states that
every person has the right to live in an environment free of
corruption and moral disease, which allows him to build his
character. The society and state should provide individuals with
such a right.' Dr. Al-Damkhy also questioned whether the attendance
of men at a women's sporting event is religiously acceptable and if
there is any chivalry in it. He called on the proper authorities to
investigate the incident. What is more shameful is that the news was
broadcast through an American Embassy press release which is viewed
as doing two things: first, the American Embassy with this press
release is challenging the feeling of the conservative Kuwaiti
people. Second, the Embassy broadcast it as a press release as if to
say that this was not simply attendance at a basketball game but
rather to state a position and to spread certain views."


11. Al-Watan, p. 20, 05/03/06:
"Where are the nation's men?" by Ahmed Barak Al-Haify.
"The attendance of men at a women's basketball game is considered a
farce to the fullest meaning of the word. One that we cannot be
quiet about and one that goes against everything related to the
values and traditions of [our] society. I think that doing such
things is intended to feel out the Kuwaiti street's reaction as well
as that of the National Assembly. If the reaction is normal and the
incident is criticized by some members, while others in the society
are quiet, then they will consider it a success and follow it with
bigger steps towards corruption. And, I state that what the minority
does of strange conduct is considered improper by our conservative
society. The most important question is 'where are the nation's
men?' Do they support it, or do they not know what has happened? I
especially call on the members of the National Assembly whose voices
were raised for all topics, where are they on these catastrophes?
Or, is putting a speed bump in a street and lighting the road
leading to the stables more important than the morals of the
nation?"

Response to Islamists: Keep Your Opinion to Yourself
-------------- --------------


12. Kuwait Times, p. 2, 05/10/06:
The Kuwait Times printed an opinion piece in response to the
Islamist criticisms. Writer Ahmad Al-Khaled wrote, "It is clear
from the photos of the event that no less than six Kuwaiti players
were in full Islamic dress, hejab and all, basketball in tow. I

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wonder if Al-Ossaimi thinks those players were forced to wear the
hejab by the Americans?... What is perplexing to me is Al-Ossaimi's
idea that his values represent my values and the values of every
Kuwaiti player that day...As a Kuwaiti son, husband and father, I
will not accept anyone policing the Kuwaiti women in my life. I
will also not accept anyone telling them what they should or
shouldn't wear and who they should or shouldn't play sports in front
of. I trust the values of the Kuwaiti women in my life to know for
themselves what is in accordance with our values and traditions, and
whether that includes a basketball game in shorts or a hejab. I for
one would be in the stands cheering them on."


13. Comment: Despite intense backlash from some Kuwaiti extremist
Islamists, the game achieved the goal of bringing together Kuwaiti
and American women through their mutual love of sport, competition
and engagement. The Embassy plans to continue to pursue sports
programming, which effectively engages Kuwaiti youth. Kuwaiti women
who want very much to participate in this type of event, and to have
their daughters have this kind of opportunity, are grateful for our
support. In the weeks since the media coverage of the women's game,
several newspapers have run more articles and pictures of Kuwaiti
girls involved in sports activities. The game attracted criticism
of the Embassy from certain quarters, but we accept that as an
anticipated and worthwhile consequence of this type of program.
The implicit criticism against Kuwaiti women is disappointing, but
not surprising. Lately, Islamists have increased their attacks on
women's sports and on music and cultural events in Kuwait. During
the game, most of the Kuwaiti players wore long sweatpants,
long-sleeved shirts, and headscarves as part of their uniforms. The
coaches of both teams and their referees were men, as has been the
custom. Half of the audience was composed of men, most of whom were
Kuwaiti family members and security personnel. As with many such
controversies, the writers who bashed the Embassy were not in
attendance and merely used the event to further their Islamist
agenda by creating a furor. The Al-Fatat Sports Club graciously
invited the American team and the Embassy to participate in this
event and both CFLCC and Embassy Public Affairs worked hard to bring
the teams together. Regrettably, CFLCC opted not to host the
women's rematch during the recent "Operation Hardwood II" basketball
event held May 24-27, 2006 at Camp Arifjan (septel). Photographs of
the game are posted on the Embassy's Internet website at:
http://kuwait.usembassy.gov/pr_04272006.html. End comment.

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