Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RIYADH6372
2006-08-09 14:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:  

SAUDI OPPOSITION GROUP CALLS FOR FRIDAY PROTESTS

Tags:  PGOV PREL PINR KISL SA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRH #6372/01 2211452
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 091452Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0472
INFO RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 7557
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 006372 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KISL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI OPPOSITION GROUP CALLS FOR FRIDAY PROTESTS
KINGDOM-WIDE

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 006372

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KISL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI OPPOSITION GROUP CALLS FOR FRIDAY PROTESTS
KINGDOM-WIDE

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The London-based, Saudi opposition group
accused of having links to al-Qaeda, the Movement for Islamic
Reform in Arabia ('MIRA'),called for political gatherings to
be held Kingdom-wide at 44 specified mosques beginning this
Friday, August 11. MIRA, composed of religious conservatives
who oppose the SAG's policies and support al-Qaeda, as per
their website statements, attempted a similar protest three
years ago. MIRA plans to avoid government interference by
calling for the gatherings to begin prior to, not after, the
Friday sermons. They called for the August 11 gatherings to
be the first of many consecutive ones, but it is likely that
even if Friday proves successful, the government will ensure
the quashing of similar future protests. Nevertheless, this
call is in line with recent criticism of the government in
the wake of the Lebanon crisis. END SUMMARY.

-------------- --------------
Opposition Movement Calls for Friday Mosque Political
Gatherings
-------------- --------------


2. (U) On August 6, the Movement for Islamic Reform in
Arabia called for gatherings at 44 designated mosques
throughout the Kingdom to be held on August 11. Through
their website, the London-based MIRA referred to their
previous attempts to hold such protests and stated that by
utilizing their new method of gathering prior to the Friday
sermons instead of afterwards, as would be anticipated by the
SAG, the gatherings could be successful. They stated that
the three advantages of this pre-sermon method are: (1) no
confrontation with, and detention or questioning by the
security forces, (2) implementation is possible without
collective organization, communications, or arrangements, and
(3) no prevention by means of security measures, barrier,
oppression or terrorism is possible.


3. (C) The statement urged all people to attend the
specified mosques early on August 11, and commented that
there is no obstacle for non-participation since all of the

previous obstacles have been removed. MIRA called all people
who "wish to put an end to the bad conditions in our
country-- starting with unemployment, poverty and crime, up
to tyranny, embezzlement of public funds, and chaotic
judiciary-- to rise up with us in this activity so that this
will be the beginning of a widespread field work to achieve a
comprehensive change."


4. (C) The list of mosques included the Sulayman al-Rajihi
mosque in Riyadh. This mosque is not particularly
conservative in nature, but its immense size (it has three
domes) and public location (it is situated at a circle along
the main road to Dammam) make it an ideal location for a
public protest. This mosque was also the main site of the
MIRA's attempted protest three years ago.

-------------- --------------
Background of the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia
-------------- --------------


5. (C) The head of MIRA, Dr. Saad al-Faqih, is a Saudi
dissident and physician living in exile in London. He was
one of the signatories of the 1992 "Memorandum of Advice"
submitted to the late King Fahd, and he was jailed
immediately following the memorandum's public release. He is
a bin Laden supporter, who in past interviews has referred to
bin Laden as part of a new social structure that opposes
America as well as Arab and Muslim regimes allied with
America. During his time in London, he formed MIRA, which
called for Islamic reform in Saudi Arabia and the removal of
the al-Saud family. He opened radio, television and internet
sites to promote his cause. According to media reports,
al-Fiqah has posted al-Qaeda messages on MIRA's website, and
in 2001 assumed the role of al-Qaeda spokesperson in London
following the arrest of Egyptian Islamic Jihad terrorist
Yassir al-Sirri.


6. (C) MIRA was designated by both the United Kingdom and
the United States as having alleged links to al-Qaeda. On
December 24, 2004, under United Nations Order 2001, the Bank
of England froze MIRA's assets because the Treasury had
"reasonable grounds for suspecting that the organization is
acting on behalf of Saad al-Faqih, who was listed by the U.N.
as an associate of al-Qaeda on December 23." Similarly, on
July 14, 2005, the U.S. Department of Treasury designated
MIRA for providing support to al-Qaeda, based upon the
designation of Saad al-Faqih, head of MIRA, pursuant to E.O.
13224 by the Treasury on December 21, 2004.


7. (C) COMMENT: Due to the recent success of demonstrations

in the Eastern Province and the increased criticism of the
SAG in response to the Lebanon crisis, it is possible that
MIRA's call for gatherings on Friday will enjoy mild success
with the public. Although it is unlikely that the campaign
will be successful overall, MIRA's renewed call for such
protests after nearly three years and after having its assets
frozen under U.N. and U.S. designations is a sign of
increased strength and activism. END COMMENT.

OBERWETTER