INTERNET JOURNALISM CHANGING PERSPECTIVES AMONG EP

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 005083

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DHAHRAN SENDS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL SA
SUBJECT: INTERNET JOURNALISM CHANGING PERSPECTIVES AMONG EP
SHI'A

Classified By: Consul General John Kincannon for reason 1.4 (d).


1. (C) Hussein Al-Alak, a Qatif-based journalist for online
Rasid News Network (www.rasid.org; the premier Internet forum
for Saudi Shi'a),discussed with PolOff and PAO on June 20
the growing influence of Internet journalism among the Shi'a.
Because the government has permitted much greater freedom of
expression over the past five years, Al-Alak explained, he
and his fellow online writers feel comfortable having their
true names, e-mail addresses, and photographs associated with
their articles. "In the past the government might have
thrown you in jail for saying something they don't like. Now
they just harass you a bit by calling you, having you come in
and sign some papers, et cetera. But we are willing to
endure this harassment for the principles of openness and
dialogue." Al-Alak acknowledged that there was a ceiling to
freedom of expression, namely "criticism of the ruling
family." He said that he and his colleagues used Al-Watan
and Al-Riyadh newspapers as barometers of the permissible,
noting that they enjoy a degree of protection which allows
them to adopt more serious, critical editorial policies than
other Saudi-based newspapers.


2. (C) Al-Alak observed that the criticism Rasid writers
faced from their readers in the Shi'a community was often
intense. Yet sometimes, he noted, readers' views defied the
conventional wisdom and produced an unexpected picture of the
opinion of the "Shi'a street." Al-Alak offered as an example
an opinion piece he recently published on Hamas. The piece,
titled, in loose translation, "Screw Hamas," criticized Hamas
for various actions that, Al-Alak argued, were supportive of
Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi and therefore against the Iraqi people.
"It was a very provocative article, and I thought the
reaction would be so fierce that I opened it by warning the
readers that some would find it a dangerous argument."
Instead, Al-Alak noted, readers' comments were mostly
positive. Even more astounding, Al-Alak continued, were the
results of an online poll Rasid conducted about Hamas. The
poll asked respondents, "Given the recent position of Hamas
on Zarqawi, do you consider Hamas: 1) A jihadi group; 2) A
terrorist group; or 3) Don't know?" According to Al-Alak,
seventy percent of respondents considered Hamas a terrorist
group, with the rest divided between the remaining two
answers. "The results represent a sea change in opinion,"
Al-Alak continued. "A few months ago very few in the Shi'a
community would have considered Hamas a terrorist
organization."


3. (C) Al-Alak said that the "guys" who manage Rasid do not
reveal their identities online, partly because of concern
about an SAG crackdown but also to avoid personal attacks for
Rasid's editorial policy. The editors, Al-Alak claimed,
believe strongly in the importance of debate and freedom of
expression and publish articles representing diverse
viewpoints. (Note: We think it likely that the identities
of at least several of Rasid's managers are open secrets
among Shi'a activists, although they are reluctant to discuss
the issue with us. One contact said that several of the
managers were U.S.-based. End note.)


4. (C) Comment: Rasid News Network seems heavily used by
all politically active Shi'a. Once a story gets posted to
Rasid, almost all our Shi'a contacts seem to know about it.
There are reports about most major incidents affecting the
Shi'a community on Rasid, and the network covers ongoing
political developments like meetings of Qatif's municipal
council as well. The opinion pieces do represent a range of
views, there is ample opportunity for readers to comment, and
the site often conducts polls on political questions. While
it is impossible to know how representative readers' comments
and poll results are of the Saudi Shi'a community at large,
we find Rasid to be a far better gauge of Shi'a opinion than
any other media source. We have reason to believe that the
SAG also finds Rasid a helpful source of information on Shi'a
activities and opinions. Rasid has posted stories about
several Consulate activities, and in two cases the SAG has
made inquiries with our hosts and/or reprimanded them for
inviting us without notifying the SAG. End comment.

(APPROVED: KINCANNON)
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