MEDIA REACTION - CARICATURES OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000348 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/PD, NEA/RA, DS/OP/NEA, S/CT, RRU/NEA CENTCOM FOR POLAD NEA/PPD FOR AFERNANDEZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM KMPI PGOV PHUM PREL YM SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - CARICATURES OF MOHAMMED. ¶1. SUMMARY. Recent caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed, which appeared in European newspapers, have angered Yemenis, who have responded with protests, boycotts, and calls for diplomatic measures. Yemeni protests, however, have been peaceful. END SUMMARY. ¶2. EDITORIAL COMMENTARY: ¶A. On January 28, 26 September (Armed Forces- funded, Defense Ministry daily with circulation of 40,000) reported that a source at the Foreign Ministry denounced the caricatures in the Danish newspaper as "insulting to the Prophet Mohamed." The source added that Yemen called on the international community to condemn the publication and take tough measures to prevent similar episodes. Also on January 28, Al-Shura (Islamist weekly affiliated with opposition Popular Forces Union party with circulation of 6,000) reported the Yemeni Parliament "condemned" the drawings and called on the Arab League to demand an apology from the Danish government. ¶B. The same day, condemnation of the drawings followed from the Yemeni Writers and Authors Association, according to reports in Al-Wahdawi (Nasserite Party weekly with circulation 12,000), and from imams across the country, who, during Friday prayers, demanded expulsion of the Danish Ambassador according to reports in Al-Ayyam (independent Aden-based daily with circulation of 40,000). [Note: Denmark has no Ambassador in Yemen as relations are handled from Saudi Arabia. End note.] ¶C. On January 30, Al-Shura further reported a statement issued by the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate condemning the caricatures. On the same day, Al-Sahwa (Islah Party weekly with circulation of 25,000) reported the Consumer Protection Association demanded a boycott of Danish and Norwegian goods and published a list of such goods sold in Yemen. An Al-Thawra (official government daily with circulation 40,000) unsigned editorial strongly condemned the caricatures. ¶D. Outrage over the caricatures continued on January 31 and the Yemen News Agency reported on a statement of condemnation by the Yemen Scholars Association. Also that day, 26 September reported a gathering of Arab ministers in Jordan had demanded the Danish government punish the newspaper, which had first published the caricatures. By January 31, SMS messages, advising of upcoming protests and including lists of products to avoid (in some cases mistakenly sweeping in non-Danish and non-Norwegian companies such as Nestle),gained wide circulation across the Yemen mobile network. ¶E. On February 1, the official Saba News Agency reported the Islah Party had called for a boycott of Danish and Norwegian products and Al-Shura reported the advisory Shura Council had requested that the ROYG sever relations with Denmark. On the same day, Al-Sahwa reported that Denmark's honorary consul in Yemen, Ahmad Hayel Saeed, had resigned in protest. ¶F. Media outlets devoted extensive coverage during the weekend (2/2-3) to a demonstration of protest by Yemeni women in Sana'a. Al-Sahwa (2/4) reported protestors marched to the European Commission and UN headquarters demanding an apology and burned the Danish flag and added that similar protests took place in Aden and Dhamar. Al-Sahwa also reported that, following republication of certain of the caricatures in a Jordanian newspaper, the Islah Party issued a statement calling for a boycott of Jordanian products and for a mass recall of Arab ambassadors to Jordan. Al-Shura (2/4) reported that the Al- Shura.net (2/4) reported the opposition coalition Joint Meeting Party (JMP) released a communiqu calling upon Arab and Islamic countries to adopt a unified stance against "a growing crusade against Islam." Also on February 4, NewsYemen.net (well- regarded, independent news website) reported that Sheikh Abdul Majeed Al-Zindani, head of the Islah Shura Council and Rector of Al-Iman University, called for more demonstrations during Friday prayers. ¶G. The USG to date has stayed above the fray in the Yemeni media. On February 4, Al-Ayyam gave positive coverage to a State Department statement that the caricatures were "offensive and morally repugnant." Al-Ayyam also noted a statement by British Foreign Minister Jack Straw describing the editorial decision as disrespectful to Muslims. KRAJESKI