KUWAITIS REACT ANGRILY TO POPE'S COMMENTS; ONE MP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003717 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF VT KU SUBJECT: KUWAITIS REACT ANGRILY TO POPE'S COMMENTS; ONE MP DEMANDS CLOSURE OF CHURCHES KUWAIT 00003717 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Kuwaitis strongly criticized the Pope's comments on Islam over the local weekend. The Minister of Awqaf and Minister of Justice, Dr. Abdullah Al-Ma'touq, denounced the Pope's remarks and all other attempts "to undermine the humane nature of Islamic teachings." Shaykha Furaiha Al-Sabah, the Amir's sister, expressed "extreme sorrow" over the comments. The leaders of Salafi and Shi'a political associations demanded that the Pope apologize, saying the comments misrepresented Islamic teachings and were evidence of "the pursuit of the Crusades." Islamist Members of Parliament (MPs) demanded an emergency session "to discuss and respond to the Pope's anti-Islam statements." One MP also demanded the Government cut down on the number of churches in Kuwait, saying an apology from the Pope was not enough. Several seminars and rallies are planned starting September 18. End summary. Awqaf Minister Criticizes Comments; Protests Planned -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In the only reaction we have seen so far from a government official, the Kuwaiti Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Minister of Justice, Dr. Abdullah Al-Ma'touq, criticized the Pope's remarks and "denounced attempts to undermine the humane nature of Islamic teachings," according to a September 16 article in the Kuwait Times. He stressed that "the Prophet Mohammed preached love, peace, and respect for others' rights," and called on "the world's religious leaders to avoid eliciting hatred among the different religions." A number of popular rallies and seminars denouncing the Pope's statements are scheduled to be held starting September 18. So far, the Nations Invariable Grouping, a small, conservative Salafi political association; the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS),an Islamic charity organization; and Kuwait University's Faculty of Shari'a have announced that they will sponsor rallies this week. "Extreme Sorrow" Over Pope's Comments -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Kuwaitis reacted angrily over the local weekend to the Pope's remarks on Islam and called on him to apologize for his statements. Most daily newspapers featured local and international criticism in their news and editorial pages. Shaykha Furaiha Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the sister of the Amir and a leading advocate of religious tolerance, expressed "extreme sorrow" over the comments, which she said have "dynamited the efforts made by some Muslim and Christian leaders to foster dialogue and rapprochement between the civilizations and faiths." Hakem Al-Mutairi, the Secretary General of the Ummah (Nations) Party, a controversial Salafi political association, said the Pope's comments represented "the pursuit of the Crusades" and urged "all Arab and Islamic states to recall their ambassadors from the Vatican and expel the ambassadors of the Vatican until the Pope says he is sorry for the wrong done to the Prophet and Islam, which preaches peace, tolerance, justice, and equality," the Kuwait Times (local English daily) reported September 15. Sayed Mohammed Baqer Al-Mohri, Kuwait's leading Shi'a cleric and the Secretary General of the Shi'a Cleric Congregation, a moderate Shi'a political association, similarly condemned the Pope's comments, calling them "unrealistic and unjustified." Al-Mohri claimed the Pope's "unjustified attack on Islam and the Prophet Mohammed clearly contradicts his call for dialogue between civilizations." Islamist MPs Demand Emergency Session -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Islamist Members of Parliament (MPs) have demanded an emergency session be held "to discuss and respond to the Pope's anti-Islam statements." Islamist MP Faisal Al-Muslim justified the emergency session, saying, "What was said by the Pope is too big and serious to be countered by a statement from one movement or political bloc, and necessitates a unified position on the level of the entire Parliament," Al-Rai Al-Aam (local Arabic daily) reported September 16. First-time Islamist MP Khudair Al-Enezi, a member of the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM),the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, said the session should "send a clear message to he who dares to encroach on Islam and Islamic values." He also urged the Kuwaiti government to sever diplomatic relations with the Vatican. MP Abdullah Akkash, who is affiliated with the Salafi Movement, a conservative Islamist political association, said the Pope's statements "demonstrate the hostile mentality of KUWAIT 00003717 002.2 OF 002 the West towards Islam and Muslims." Independent Islamist MP Daifallah Bouramia called on the Government to deny requests for new churches to be established in Kuwait and cut down on the number of existing churches in response to the Pope's statements, arguing that an apology was insufficient. (Note: There are only seven officially recognized churches in Kuwait. End note.) ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * LeBaron