KUWAITIS REACT ANGRILY TO POPE'S COMMENTS; ONE MP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003717

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SUBJECT: KUWAITIS REACT ANGRILY TO POPE'S COMMENTS; ONE MP
DEMANDS CLOSURE OF CHURCHES

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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
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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
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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

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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.)

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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/
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LeBaron