Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RIYADH5315
2006-07-05 06:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
DISCUSSION GROUPS GROW, CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPS
how-toVZCZCXRO8824 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHRH #5315 1860612 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 050612Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9225 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2671 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0609
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 005315
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DHAHRAN SENDS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KIRF SA
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION GROUPS GROW, CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPS
REF: RIYADH 3301
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 005315
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DHAHRAN SENDS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KIRF SA
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION GROUPS GROW, CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPS
REF: RIYADH 3301
Classified By: Consul General John Kincannon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).
1. (C) Summary: Shi'a journalist Merza Al Khuwaildi
discussed the range of new discussion groups in Saudi Arabia,
in a June 28 meeting with the Consul General. Considered the
vanguard of civil society in Saudi Arabia, these home-based,
informal, grass-roots groups have enjoyed more freedom over
the past few years. Many new groups have developed, and with
the assistance of the Internet there is greater communication
between different groups across the country. End summary.
2. (C) Merza Al Khuwaildi is an editor at Al-Sharq al-Awsat
Newspaper, and is active in Qateef municipal council member
Jafar Al-Shayeb's weekly discussion forum. In May, Al-Shayeb
invited several discussion groups in the Eastern Province for
a general meeting. Organizers of 11 groups came to the
meeting; out of the 15 invited groups, three were run by
women and two were targeted at youth. (Comment. These
informal "salons" are very much a Shi'a phenomenon in Saudi
Arabia. We are aware of fifteen different Shi'a discussion
groups in the EP and only two run by Sunnis. Al-Khuwalidi
described two or three other Sunni groups in Riyadh and
Jeddah. End comment.)
3. (C) Al Khuwaildi said that many new groups have started
over the past couple of years, with much greater freedom than
before. "Before," he said, "the Saudi government tried to
divide us, and people worked in isolation. Now with the
Internet, that's impossible." Jafer Al-Shayeb's weekly group
has invited leaders of groups in other parts of the country
to speak to his group; Dr. Sami Angawi, who hosts the Meccawi
forum in his home in Jeddah, spoke to Al Shayeb's group in
Qatif. A few speakers are popular throughout the country,
going on a kind of 'speaking tour' at different groups,
including Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Bleihi, Mansour Al-Noqueidan, and
Qinan Al-Ghamdi.
--------------
REQUESTS, NOT ARRESTS
--------------
4. (C) Al-Khuwaildi said the government pressure on these
groups is much more gentle than it was a few years ago. "Now
they politely ask you to the Governor's office, and request
that you stop the forum. Before they used to arrest you."
Nor is the request particularly forceful; Al-Khuwaildi said
that Al-Shayeb has regularly been called in to meet with the
Governor, yet he continues to hold the weekly forum. After
Dr. Sami Angawi's talk, complete with a power point display,
about how the religious authorities had allegedly and
deliberately destroyed Muslim artifacts in Mecca in the name
of Islam, al-Shayeb was called in. "People report on what
happens during the forum, and then the Governor's office
calls," Al-Khuwaildi said. "People running the groups need to
make steps forward," he said "and then they have to face the
consequences."
5. (C) Technology has also given rise to on-line discussion
groups. Even when these groups, such as the Shi'a community
site www.Rasid.com, are shut down by the government, the
organizers can find a way to start the site again. "Rasid has
been shut down 60 times," Al-Khuwaildi said, "and each time
the organizers just e-mail a list-serve with a link to the
new website."
6. (C) Comment: Al-Khuwaildi is clearly plugged in to the
community of cultural and political groups in Saudi Arabia.
A long-time activist, Al-Khuwaildi was part of the Shi'a
exile community until the deal was struck to allow the group
back into the country in the 1993-4. His activity in these
groups is part of his effort to promote greater freedom and
democracy in Saudi Arabia. These discussion groups are the
beginnings of a truly independent civil society in Saudi
Arabia (reftel); if the SAG is serious about efforts to
reform, these groups will be allowed to flourish. Conversely,
a crackdown on these groups would not bode well for the
prospects for reform. End comment.
(APPROVED: KINCANNON)
OBERWETTER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DHAHRAN SENDS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KIRF SA
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION GROUPS GROW, CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPS
REF: RIYADH 3301
Classified By: Consul General John Kincannon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).
1. (C) Summary: Shi'a journalist Merza Al Khuwaildi
discussed the range of new discussion groups in Saudi Arabia,
in a June 28 meeting with the Consul General. Considered the
vanguard of civil society in Saudi Arabia, these home-based,
informal, grass-roots groups have enjoyed more freedom over
the past few years. Many new groups have developed, and with
the assistance of the Internet there is greater communication
between different groups across the country. End summary.
2. (C) Merza Al Khuwaildi is an editor at Al-Sharq al-Awsat
Newspaper, and is active in Qateef municipal council member
Jafar Al-Shayeb's weekly discussion forum. In May, Al-Shayeb
invited several discussion groups in the Eastern Province for
a general meeting. Organizers of 11 groups came to the
meeting; out of the 15 invited groups, three were run by
women and two were targeted at youth. (Comment. These
informal "salons" are very much a Shi'a phenomenon in Saudi
Arabia. We are aware of fifteen different Shi'a discussion
groups in the EP and only two run by Sunnis. Al-Khuwalidi
described two or three other Sunni groups in Riyadh and
Jeddah. End comment.)
3. (C) Al Khuwaildi said that many new groups have started
over the past couple of years, with much greater freedom than
before. "Before," he said, "the Saudi government tried to
divide us, and people worked in isolation. Now with the
Internet, that's impossible." Jafer Al-Shayeb's weekly group
has invited leaders of groups in other parts of the country
to speak to his group; Dr. Sami Angawi, who hosts the Meccawi
forum in his home in Jeddah, spoke to Al Shayeb's group in
Qatif. A few speakers are popular throughout the country,
going on a kind of 'speaking tour' at different groups,
including Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Bleihi, Mansour Al-Noqueidan, and
Qinan Al-Ghamdi.
--------------
REQUESTS, NOT ARRESTS
--------------
4. (C) Al-Khuwaildi said the government pressure on these
groups is much more gentle than it was a few years ago. "Now
they politely ask you to the Governor's office, and request
that you stop the forum. Before they used to arrest you."
Nor is the request particularly forceful; Al-Khuwaildi said
that Al-Shayeb has regularly been called in to meet with the
Governor, yet he continues to hold the weekly forum. After
Dr. Sami Angawi's talk, complete with a power point display,
about how the religious authorities had allegedly and
deliberately destroyed Muslim artifacts in Mecca in the name
of Islam, al-Shayeb was called in. "People report on what
happens during the forum, and then the Governor's office
calls," Al-Khuwaildi said. "People running the groups need to
make steps forward," he said "and then they have to face the
consequences."
5. (C) Technology has also given rise to on-line discussion
groups. Even when these groups, such as the Shi'a community
site www.Rasid.com, are shut down by the government, the
organizers can find a way to start the site again. "Rasid has
been shut down 60 times," Al-Khuwaildi said, "and each time
the organizers just e-mail a list-serve with a link to the
new website."
6. (C) Comment: Al-Khuwaildi is clearly plugged in to the
community of cultural and political groups in Saudi Arabia.
A long-time activist, Al-Khuwaildi was part of the Shi'a
exile community until the deal was struck to allow the group
back into the country in the 1993-4. His activity in these
groups is part of his effort to promote greater freedom and
democracy in Saudi Arabia. These discussion groups are the
beginnings of a truly independent civil society in Saudi
Arabia (reftel); if the SAG is serious about efforts to
reform, these groups will be allowed to flourish. Conversely,
a crackdown on these groups would not bode well for the
prospects for reform. End comment.
(APPROVED: KINCANNON)
OBERWETTER