MUST LOVE DOGS

UNCLAS RIYADH 007190

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PCUL PHUM PGOV PREL KISL SA
SUBJECT: MUST LOVE DOGS


1. (U) SUMMARY. Saudi attitudes toward animals exemplifies
the way in which conservatism and tradition have collided
with progressive thinking and western ideas to create a
paradox within Saudi culture. Muslims are guided by the
Qura'an and teachings of the Prophet Mohammad to be kind to
animals, including dogs, despite the pervasive belief that
dogs should not be raised as pets and are "dirty." In
addition to the influence of conservative elements of Saudi
society, their stern views toward pets, and their general
abhorrence of foreign practices, there is also strong public
sentiment that it is inhumane to spend money caring for
animals when there are so many people in need throughout the
world. Nonetheless, there are Saudis who raise dogs as pets
-- despite the perception that this practice is a violation
of Saudi customs and tradition. Some Saudis consider the
recent focus by conservatives on the issue of pets a
reflection of their decreasing "sphere of influence." END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) Saudis' attitudes towards pets -- specifically dogs --
is a good example of how institutionalized interpretations of
the Qura'an and conservatism have collided with exposure to
western ideas and progressive thinking to create a paradox
within Saudi culture. There have been numerous items in the
press of late regarding cats, dogs, and other pets. It was
recently reported, for example, that the Governor of Makkah
banned the sale of dogs and other pets in the city upon a
request from the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and
Prevention of Vice (Mutawa'a) because many young Saudis have
been out walking dogs. The Mutawa'a, it was reported,
considers this a violation of the Kingdom's culture and
traditions, and special squads have begun enforcing this
decision.


3. (U) Traditionally, Arabs have been known for their love of
animals, including dogs, and the inception of Islam did not
change this in principle. The dog is appreciated for its
loyalty, and many tribes and individuals even carry dogs'
names. In chapter XVIII of the Holy Qura'an, there is
mention of a group of early Christians who fled Roman
persecution and slept in a cave with their dog. After 300
years, they all arose together. The Prophet Mohammad is
quoted as saying that it is permissible to raise dogs -- but
only for guarding or hunting. This is likely the reason that
Muslim society discourages the practice of raising dogs as
pets. Additionally, there is a widespread Muslim belief that
the dog's mouth and saliva, as well as its waste, are
unclean. It is not uncommon, however, for other animals to
be raised as pets in Muslim society. For example, a close
disciple of the Prophet Mohammad, Abu Horayrah, had a
nickname that was derived from the kitten he took with him
wherever he went. The Prophet himself commented positively
on Horayrah's habit.


4. (U) Kindness to animals is an important aspect of the
Islamic creed. One of the examples Mohammad gave to Muslims
was that of a disobedient Jewish woman who was forgiven and
accepted into "God's Kingdom" because she watered a dying,
thirsty dog. He also provided the example of a "normal"
woman who was thrown into Hell because she locked up a cat
until it died of hunger and thirst. After Prophet Mohammad,
the Muhtassebs, predecessors of the Mutawa'a, monitored the
treatment of animals as part of their job, and the second
successor of Mohammad, Omar, punished a camel driver for
overtaxing his camel.


5. (U) Despite this emphasis on kindness, there remains in
Saudi culture a very harsh attitude toward animals, which is
often attributed to the stern views of the more conservative
elements of the population and their suspicion and abhorrence
of foreign practices -- especially non-Muslim practices.
When the media publishes stories of Westerners who dedicate
their wealth to animals, many conservatives recall the
stories of the thousands of people who die of hunger and
disease in Third World countries, as well as those who have
lost their homes and lives in Afghanistan, Iraq, "Palestine,"
and Lebanon. They do not see the care given to dogs and cats
as a sign of kindness and mercy, rather as a lack of humanity.


6. (U) The "elites" who are seen with their dogs, cats, and
birds on the streets of the main Saudi cities are considered
by the conservative population as westernized nouveau riches.
According to them, these individuals do not really keep
their pets out of kindness, but rather to show that they are
"civilized --" a mentality that was allegedly used to justify
the Governor of Makkah's decision to ban the sale of pets.


7. (U) COMMENT: This contrast between the words of the
Qura'an and the Prophet Mohammad, which imply that kindness
must be shown to animals, and the general distaste that most
Muslims have for dogs is yet another of the many
contradictions in Saudi society. In this instance, it is
very much a struggle between the old and new. Some will say
that the field of "action" for the more conservative elements
of Saudi society is constricting. Therefore, there is an
increased focus on the more inane issues, such as banning
pets and Pokemon videos. An old joke has again come to life.
A Mutawa'a's neighbor asked him how to purify a wall that
had been dirtied by a dog's waste. The Mutawa'a advised that
it was necessary to take the wall down and rebuild it seven
times. The neighbor then asked the Mutawa'a to pay 50
percent of the wall's building and destruction costs since it
separated their two homes. The Mutawa'a calmly replied, "My
son, a little water can purify the wall. Islam is easy."
END COMMENT.
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