Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RIYADH3720
2006-05-15 12:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAG DETAINS HARD-LINE SHI'A CLERIC RETURNING FROM
how-toVZCZCXRO4760 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHRH #3720 1351235 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151235Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7426 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2610 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0549
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 003720
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DHAHRAN SENDS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAG DETAINS HARD-LINE SHI'A CLERIC RETURNING FROM
BAHRAIN
Classified by Consul General John Kincannon for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 003720
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DHAHRAN SENDS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAG DETAINS HARD-LINE SHI'A CLERIC RETURNING FROM
BAHRAIN
Classified by Consul General John Kincannon for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) Post contacts and the Saudi Shi'a-run Rasid News
Network (www.rasid.org) report that the Saudi Mubahith
detained Shi'a cleric Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr on the evening of
May 11 as he was entering Saudi Arabia from Bahrain over the
King Fahd Causeway. Al-Nimr is from Awamiya, a small oasis
town north of the town of Qatif that enjoys a reputation as a
redoubt of Shi'a hardliners, greater internal volatility, and
a higher concentration of private firearms. (Qatifi Shi'a
sometimes, half-jokingly, call Awamiya "Falluja.") According
to post contacts, Al-Nimr has a number of supporters in
Awamiya, is known for "strong" views, and is considered
something of a "maverick." Al-Nimr's brother, Mohammed
Al-Nimr, a businessman and editor of a cultural journal,
confirmed to post on May 14 that his brother was at the
Mubahith detention center in Dammam. He speculated that the
detention was related to one of his brother's Friday sermons
or to related "cultural activities," not to what he was doing
May 11 in Bahrain. Mohammed Al-Nimr expected that his
brother would be released soon; if not, the family planned to
appeal to the Emir. (Note: "Cultural activities" is often a
euphemism for political organizing activities in the Shi'a
community. We believe that clerics from the Al-Nimr family,
likely including Nimr Al-Nimr, form the core of Saudi
Hezbollah. End note.)
2. (SBU) A story in Rasid News Network claimed that there
was a small "march" in Awamiya in the evening of May 13 in
which "tens" of young men held signs in support of Al-Nimr
and called for his release. One of post's contacts said he
had heard of some sort of protests, but cautioned that they
might have been nothing more than youth riding their
motorcycles and honking more than usual. This same contact
speculated that the Mubahith had detained Al-Nimr on the
causeway rather than in Awamiya because "they fear the
reaction if they tried to do anything in Awamiya."
3. (C) Comment: To the best of post's knowledge, Al-Nimr's
detention marks the first time in at least eight months that
the SAG has detained a Shi'a cleric and leader. If Al-Nimr
is not released soon, his detention may prove an interesting
test of the extent of support for Al-Nimr and his views in
the Shi'a community and the extent to which more moderate
Shi'a leaders care to support calls for his release. End
comment.
(APPROVED: KINCANNON)
GFOELLER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DHAHRAN SENDS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAG DETAINS HARD-LINE SHI'A CLERIC RETURNING FROM
BAHRAIN
Classified by Consul General John Kincannon for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) Post contacts and the Saudi Shi'a-run Rasid News
Network (www.rasid.org) report that the Saudi Mubahith
detained Shi'a cleric Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr on the evening of
May 11 as he was entering Saudi Arabia from Bahrain over the
King Fahd Causeway. Al-Nimr is from Awamiya, a small oasis
town north of the town of Qatif that enjoys a reputation as a
redoubt of Shi'a hardliners, greater internal volatility, and
a higher concentration of private firearms. (Qatifi Shi'a
sometimes, half-jokingly, call Awamiya "Falluja.") According
to post contacts, Al-Nimr has a number of supporters in
Awamiya, is known for "strong" views, and is considered
something of a "maverick." Al-Nimr's brother, Mohammed
Al-Nimr, a businessman and editor of a cultural journal,
confirmed to post on May 14 that his brother was at the
Mubahith detention center in Dammam. He speculated that the
detention was related to one of his brother's Friday sermons
or to related "cultural activities," not to what he was doing
May 11 in Bahrain. Mohammed Al-Nimr expected that his
brother would be released soon; if not, the family planned to
appeal to the Emir. (Note: "Cultural activities" is often a
euphemism for political organizing activities in the Shi'a
community. We believe that clerics from the Al-Nimr family,
likely including Nimr Al-Nimr, form the core of Saudi
Hezbollah. End note.)
2. (SBU) A story in Rasid News Network claimed that there
was a small "march" in Awamiya in the evening of May 13 in
which "tens" of young men held signs in support of Al-Nimr
and called for his release. One of post's contacts said he
had heard of some sort of protests, but cautioned that they
might have been nothing more than youth riding their
motorcycles and honking more than usual. This same contact
speculated that the Mubahith had detained Al-Nimr on the
causeway rather than in Awamiya because "they fear the
reaction if they tried to do anything in Awamiya."
3. (C) Comment: To the best of post's knowledge, Al-Nimr's
detention marks the first time in at least eight months that
the SAG has detained a Shi'a cleric and leader. If Al-Nimr
is not released soon, his detention may prove an interesting
test of the extent of support for Al-Nimr and his views in
the Shi'a community and the extent to which more moderate
Shi'a leaders care to support calls for his release. End
comment.
(APPROVED: KINCANNON)
GFOELLER