MOROCCO - KING'S "AGILE" RESPONSE TO VATICAN ISLAM

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001733 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2016 TAGS: KISL PREL MO SUBJECT: MOROCCO - KING'S "AGILE" RESPONSE TO VATICAN ISLAM CONTROVERSY Classified by Political Counselor Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Morocco has reacted strongly in protest to Pope Benedict's controversial remarks on Islam. The MFA confirmed to us that Morocco's Ambassador to the Vatican has been recalled for consultations. King Mohammed VI is also reported to have sent a written protest to the Vatican, but the contents of his message have not been made public. The newspaper of Morocco's most powerful Islamist party applauded the King's actions. Observers describe the King's handling of the matter as agile - allowing him to stay at least one step ahead of the street as the controversy unfolds. End summary. ¶2. (C) Hassan Hami (protect),Deputy Director of Arab and International Organizations Affairs at the Moroccan Foreign Ministry confirmed to poloff on September 18 media reports that, on the instructions of King Mohammed VI, Morocco's Ambassador to the Vatican had been recalled for consultations in reaction to Pope Benedict's controversial remarks on Islam. Stressing that he was speaking off the record, Hami downplayed the move, saying that it had been taken for "symbolic purposes." Hami doubted that it would be long before Ambassador Ali Al-Ashour returned to the Vatican. ¶3. (U) The official Maghreb Arab Press Agency reported that the King had also sent a written protest of Benedict's allegedly anti-Islamic remarks to the Vatican, but the contents of this message have not been made public. ¶4. (U) Al-Tajdid, the Arabic daily affiliated with Morocco's powerful Islamist (but pro-monarchy) Justice and Development Party (PJD) applauded the King's decision. A columnist in the paper lauded the King's "wise decision" which had "...reinforced His Majesty's religious role as Commander of the Faithful and reflected the indignation of Muslims in Morocco and elsewhere." ¶5. (C) Observers are impressed with what they see as the King's agile handling of this matter, which they believe have put him a step ahead of the street. The GOM's timely and decisive response, they argue, have preempted Islamists who might have organized street demonstrations that would have forced the government to react rather than lead. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** RILEY