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