CARTOON CONTROVERSY; NORDIC DIPLOMATS COMMENT;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000221

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, DS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2009
TAGS: ASEC KISL MO PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: CARTOON CONTROVERSY; NORDIC DIPLOMATS COMMENT;
MORE DEMONSTRATIONS PLANNED

REF: A. RABAT 201


B. STATE

Classified By: POL/C Timothy Lenderking for Reasons 1.4. (b) and (d)


1. (C) During a February 8 office call to discuss the
aborted Nordic mission to Western Sahara (septel),Swedish
and Norwegian Embassy First Secretaries Jonas Wendel and Lena
Richter Strand told Polcouns that reaction so far against
Nordic countries in Morocco in response to the cartoon
controversy had been limited and restrained. Richter Strand
said the Norwegian Embassy had received a number of emails
expressing dismay with the cartoons, but the emails, all in
English and not necessarily from Moroccans, were
non-threatening, and the embassy was not unduly concerned.
Nevertheless, she reported that additional Moroccan police
are stationed outside the Norwegian Embassy in Rabat. RSO
learned of a bomb threat to the Swedish Embassy, however,
later on February 8; the Swedish Embassy evacuated, but no
bomb or suspicious item was found.


2. (SBU) The diplomats reported that approximately 800-900
demonstrators showed up at an announced sit-in at the Danish
Honorary Consulate in Casablanca the evening of February 7.
(Note: There is no Danish Embassy in Morocco. The Danish
Ambassador to Morocco resides in Lisbon. Sweden and Norway
assist Denmark with various diplomatic duties in Morocco End
Note). The demonstration was peaceful. Richter Strand noted
that the honorary consulate, staffed by a Moroccan
businessman, is housed in an office building near the port in
Casablanca, but is not in an area convenient to the public.
That may have helped keep the numbers at the demonstration
down, she thought. Wendel understood that the honorary
consul had removed the Danish flag down from the front of the
office over the February 4 weekend, but he believed the flag
had since been re-hoisted. Press reports indicate the sit-in
was led by the youth wing of the Islamist Party of Justice
and Development.


3. (C) Moroccan security sources told Casa RSO that only
30-40 people showed up at the Casablanca demonstration, which
they said was unauthorized. The police dispersed the
demonstrators, who left peacefully.


4. (C) Wendel said he had heard that some Danish products
had been removed from shelves in some supermarkets in Rabat
and Casablanca, but he believed this was not systematic or
even widely observed. The only Danish company in Morocco is
Maersk, with offices in Casablanca and Tangiers. In
addition, a Moroccan company represents Bang and Olufsen.
The diplomats were aware of no threats or special security
issues regarding either of these businesses.


5. (SBU) According to press reports and other embassy
contacts, several other demonstrations have taken place in
recent days:

-- On February 6, members of a Casablanca labor union
organized a sit-in in a busy business area in the city. They
called for a boycott of Danish products.

-- On February 4, about 700 people (one press report claimed
the figure was 80,000, but that seems wildly inflated)
demonstrated on the main avenue in the far northeastern
border town of Oujda. Protesters condemned the Danish
government and westerners that support it.


6. (SBU) Apart from official demonstrations, there appears
to be considerable chatter on internet, SMS, and email
relating to less official gatherings. One message received
by an emboff appealed (rough translation from Arabic): "To
you, my prophet, I sacrifice myself, my father, my mother.
Defeat to Denmark. The nation of Islam has decided to have a
general fast Thursday at iftar. It is your prophet that has
been blasphemed. So show us your power on February 9, and
spread the word and support your beloved Mohammed, spread the
word for Mohammed. Please forward this to as many of your
friends as possible, so that it will reach everyone."


7. (SBU) An American professor at Morocco's private
al-Akhawayne University some two hours from Rabat in the
Middle Atlas, wrote in a February 9 article entitled, "The
Moroccan Street: No to Violence, no to Western Disrespect,"
that the consensus, based on his conversations with a wide
range of Moroccans in Ifrane, is that "contrary to the
apocalypse on television," while Moroccans find the cartoons
highly disrespectful, they believe "violence is neither

RABAT 00000221 002 OF 002


warranted nor part of Islam."


8. (SBU) According to press reports, political parties,
unions, and NGOs have called for a national march to protest
the cartoons on Friday, February 10, after noon prayers in
Rabat. RSO is in contact with Moroccan police concerning the
march and will recommend action as necessary.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************

Riley