Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MANAMA265
2007-03-23 09:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
"SPRING OF CULTURE" IGNITES RHETORICAL BATTLE
how-toVZCZCXRO3407 OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHMK #0265/01 0820905 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 230905Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6591 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 1310 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0668 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0910 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 1192 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0990 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0901 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 3590 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 2643 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 000265
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017
TAGS: PGOV SCUL KISL BA POL
SUBJECT: "SPRING OF CULTURE" IGNITES RHETORICAL BATTLE
BETWEEN ISLAMISTS AND MODERATES
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
-------
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 000265
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017
TAGS: PGOV SCUL KISL BA POL
SUBJECT: "SPRING OF CULTURE" IGNITES RHETORICAL BATTLE
BETWEEN ISLAMISTS AND MODERATES
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The elected lower house Council of Representatives
(COR),which is dominated by Islamist deputies, voted
overwhelmingly March 20 to form a committee to investigate
the "Spring of Culture," a six-week cultural festival, which
they complained included a performance that was "immoral and
against Islam." MP Mohammed Khalid said he was not against
the festival itself but thought it should consist of poetry
recitals and lectures "like cultural events held in Saudi
Arabia." The MPs' move provoked a reaction from supporters
of arts and culture, including 25 members of the upper house
Shura Council, who signed a petition backing cultural and
intellectual activities and condemning political powers who
try to "strangle freedom and creativity." Liberals, who had
been mostly quiet for well over a year, issued a joint
statement signed by 53 civil society organizations defending
the festival. Prominent editors-in-chief wrote supportive
columns. Although moderates had been in retreat, the
parliamentary attacks on the Spring of Culture awakened them
and they are making their presence felt by speaking out
loudly and clearly against religious interference in cultural
affairs. End Summary.
--------------
The Spring of What?
--------------
2. (U) Twenty-nine of the 34 Council of Representatives
deputies present March 20, representing all parliamentary
blocs, voted in favor of forming a committee to investigate
the "Spring of Culture," a six-week festival organized the
Ministry of Information Assistant Under Secretary for
Cultural and National Heritage Shaikha May bint Ibrahim Al
Khalifa. The five other deputies present abstained. The
festival, sponsored by the Economic Development Board and
national telecommunications company Batelco, was launched
March 1 with a two-night production by Lebanese
singer/musician Marcel Khalifa, accompanied by Bahraini poet
Qassem Haddad and a Lebanese dance troupe performing the
traditional Arab folk tale "Laila and the Madman."
3. (U) The MPs objected to Khalifa's interpretation of the
story, which they claim included apparently sexually explicit
movements by the dancers during a section of the tale dealing
with Laila's adultery. Sunni Al Minbar MP Mohammed Khalid
called the event the "Spring of Foolishness" and condemned
the performance as immoral and against Islam. Other MPs have
called the festival the "Spring of Sex." "The actions of the
dancers was clearly meant to depict a sexual act," he
complained. "I am not against the Spring of Culture festival
itself, but no Muslim, be he Shia or Sunni, can accept this
kind of behavior masquerading as art." Khalid said the
festival should consist of poetry recitals and lectures "like
the cultural events held in Saudi Arabia," which conform to
Islamic and Arab values. Al Minbar bloc president and COR
second deputy speaker Salah Ali protested the "sleazy dance
moves" and offered that the festival had lost sight of its
goal, which was to open up to other cultures. (EmbOffs who
attended the show acknowledge that the dancers' performance
was suggestive.)
4. (U) Preachers from both the Sunni and Shia sects
supported the MPs' moves. Sunni Shaikh Ali Mattar, a member
of the COR in the previous parliamentary session and member
of the Salafi Al Asala bloc, complained in his March 16
Friday prayer sermon that "the Spring of Culture featured a
play with scenes that arouse sexual instincts and encourage
debauchery." Leading Shia cleric Shaikh Isa Qassem announced
in his sermon, "The Spring of Culture is an open invitation
to seduction under the guise of love, in defiance of this
country's religion, taboos, and values."
--------------
An Announcement of Love
--------------
MANAMA 00000265 002 OF 003
5. (U) In response to the March 20 vote, which had been
expected, musician Khalifa and poet Haddad issued a joint
statement entitled, "We came to announce love." They
denounced the formation of the investigative committee and
praised those who stood against the MPs. They said, "Our
goal was not to stimulate the base instincts. We never
thought that the innocent, clean performance would be
interpreted by some as the opposite of what was intended.
Those who are waging a campaign against the performance in
fact aim to terrorize and oppress all forms of intellect and
culture."
6. (U) The upper house (appointed) Shura Council weighed in
March 19, in anticipation of the COR vote. Twenty-five of
the 30 members present signed a petition in support of the
festival and called for MPs to back away from their intention
to form an investigative committee. The petition read, "We
fully back all cultural and intellectual activities, which
have a strong message, especially those calling for
enlightenment, modernization, and enhancing artistic and
literary taste." The statement continued, "We strongly
condemn political powers, parliament in particular, who are
trying to strangle freedom and creativity as if they were
assigned as caretakers of people's choices and are dividing
the community with things outside of their authority."
--------------
The Liberals Awaken
--------------
7. (U) The controversy stirred Bahrain's moderates and
liberals, who had been mostly quiet for well over year.
Fifty-three Bahraini civil society organizations issued a
joint statement March 19 condemning the parliamentary
investigative committee and defending culture and creativity.
Adel Fakhro, a prominent businessman and leader of the "Lana
Haq" (We Have a Right) movement, which was formed in December
2005 to protect individual and civil liberties, said
parliament's unprecedented move to "put culture on trial"
could usher in a "very dangerous situation in which personal
freedoms are subject to the approval of parliamentary
committees." Theater director Khalid Al Rowaie said, "This
is a dangerous precedent that will take us back to the Middle
Ages and the Inquisition." Fatima Bu Idrees, a board member
of the Bahrain Young Ladies Association, told the press, "Do
we need to silence culture more than it already is? As
representatives of the people, (members of parliament) should
encourage people to learn about other cultures."
8. (U) High-profile editors-in-chief Isa Al Shaiji (Al Ayam)
and Anwar Abdul Rahman (Akhbar Al Khaleej) wrote front page
editorials on the situation. Al Shaiji March 18 urged
courageous Bahraini voices that defend freedoms, tolerance,
and pluralism to speak up and protect the rights of the
people to enjoy the beauty of art and culture. He hoped that
policy makers listen to these voices because they represent a
wide sector of Bahraini society that believes in the essence
of democracy. On March 21, he warned that press freedom was
next on the list of parliamentary deputies who want to curb
culture and creativity. He proudly praised the position of
the Shura Council and civil society groups in support of
freedom of expression. Abdul Rahman March 17 asked, "Sirs,
who appointed you guardians of the people? If you insist on
acting as guardians of the people, you will push the people
into a state of unconsciousness and torpor from which they
will never awake."
9. (U) Cartoonists also joined in. Khalid Al Hashmi of Al
Ayam drew a picture of a welcome mat labeled "culture" in
front of the doors of parliament, where deputies wipe their
shoes before entering the chamber. Abdullah Al Muharraqi of
Akhbar Al Khaleej showed a traditionally dressed male MP
waving his finger at a songbird fully covered by an abaya and
niqab (the black robe and face-covering worn by some Arab
women) and chained to its perch, demanding that it "sing and
move my emotions."
--------------
Comment
--------------
MANAMA 00000265 003 OF 003
10. (C) Moderates and liberals have been in retreat since
being mostly ignored during the 2006 campaign season and
winning few seats in the November/December parliamentary and
municipal elections. Although it took a provocative step by
parliament to reawaken them, they have made their presence
felt by speaking out loudly and clearly against religious
interference in cultural affairs. Bahrain has a tradition of
openness and tolerance belied by the overwhelming presence of
Islamists in the COR. Many are happy to see the moderates
jumping into the fray. Crown Prince Salman told the
Ambassador March 18 "it's about time the liberals are pushing
back."
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017
TAGS: PGOV SCUL KISL BA POL
SUBJECT: "SPRING OF CULTURE" IGNITES RHETORICAL BATTLE
BETWEEN ISLAMISTS AND MODERATES
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The elected lower house Council of Representatives
(COR),which is dominated by Islamist deputies, voted
overwhelmingly March 20 to form a committee to investigate
the "Spring of Culture," a six-week cultural festival, which
they complained included a performance that was "immoral and
against Islam." MP Mohammed Khalid said he was not against
the festival itself but thought it should consist of poetry
recitals and lectures "like cultural events held in Saudi
Arabia." The MPs' move provoked a reaction from supporters
of arts and culture, including 25 members of the upper house
Shura Council, who signed a petition backing cultural and
intellectual activities and condemning political powers who
try to "strangle freedom and creativity." Liberals, who had
been mostly quiet for well over a year, issued a joint
statement signed by 53 civil society organizations defending
the festival. Prominent editors-in-chief wrote supportive
columns. Although moderates had been in retreat, the
parliamentary attacks on the Spring of Culture awakened them
and they are making their presence felt by speaking out
loudly and clearly against religious interference in cultural
affairs. End Summary.
--------------
The Spring of What?
--------------
2. (U) Twenty-nine of the 34 Council of Representatives
deputies present March 20, representing all parliamentary
blocs, voted in favor of forming a committee to investigate
the "Spring of Culture," a six-week festival organized the
Ministry of Information Assistant Under Secretary for
Cultural and National Heritage Shaikha May bint Ibrahim Al
Khalifa. The five other deputies present abstained. The
festival, sponsored by the Economic Development Board and
national telecommunications company Batelco, was launched
March 1 with a two-night production by Lebanese
singer/musician Marcel Khalifa, accompanied by Bahraini poet
Qassem Haddad and a Lebanese dance troupe performing the
traditional Arab folk tale "Laila and the Madman."
3. (U) The MPs objected to Khalifa's interpretation of the
story, which they claim included apparently sexually explicit
movements by the dancers during a section of the tale dealing
with Laila's adultery. Sunni Al Minbar MP Mohammed Khalid
called the event the "Spring of Foolishness" and condemned
the performance as immoral and against Islam. Other MPs have
called the festival the "Spring of Sex." "The actions of the
dancers was clearly meant to depict a sexual act," he
complained. "I am not against the Spring of Culture festival
itself, but no Muslim, be he Shia or Sunni, can accept this
kind of behavior masquerading as art." Khalid said the
festival should consist of poetry recitals and lectures "like
the cultural events held in Saudi Arabia," which conform to
Islamic and Arab values. Al Minbar bloc president and COR
second deputy speaker Salah Ali protested the "sleazy dance
moves" and offered that the festival had lost sight of its
goal, which was to open up to other cultures. (EmbOffs who
attended the show acknowledge that the dancers' performance
was suggestive.)
4. (U) Preachers from both the Sunni and Shia sects
supported the MPs' moves. Sunni Shaikh Ali Mattar, a member
of the COR in the previous parliamentary session and member
of the Salafi Al Asala bloc, complained in his March 16
Friday prayer sermon that "the Spring of Culture featured a
play with scenes that arouse sexual instincts and encourage
debauchery." Leading Shia cleric Shaikh Isa Qassem announced
in his sermon, "The Spring of Culture is an open invitation
to seduction under the guise of love, in defiance of this
country's religion, taboos, and values."
--------------
An Announcement of Love
--------------
MANAMA 00000265 002 OF 003
5. (U) In response to the March 20 vote, which had been
expected, musician Khalifa and poet Haddad issued a joint
statement entitled, "We came to announce love." They
denounced the formation of the investigative committee and
praised those who stood against the MPs. They said, "Our
goal was not to stimulate the base instincts. We never
thought that the innocent, clean performance would be
interpreted by some as the opposite of what was intended.
Those who are waging a campaign against the performance in
fact aim to terrorize and oppress all forms of intellect and
culture."
6. (U) The upper house (appointed) Shura Council weighed in
March 19, in anticipation of the COR vote. Twenty-five of
the 30 members present signed a petition in support of the
festival and called for MPs to back away from their intention
to form an investigative committee. The petition read, "We
fully back all cultural and intellectual activities, which
have a strong message, especially those calling for
enlightenment, modernization, and enhancing artistic and
literary taste." The statement continued, "We strongly
condemn political powers, parliament in particular, who are
trying to strangle freedom and creativity as if they were
assigned as caretakers of people's choices and are dividing
the community with things outside of their authority."
--------------
The Liberals Awaken
--------------
7. (U) The controversy stirred Bahrain's moderates and
liberals, who had been mostly quiet for well over year.
Fifty-three Bahraini civil society organizations issued a
joint statement March 19 condemning the parliamentary
investigative committee and defending culture and creativity.
Adel Fakhro, a prominent businessman and leader of the "Lana
Haq" (We Have a Right) movement, which was formed in December
2005 to protect individual and civil liberties, said
parliament's unprecedented move to "put culture on trial"
could usher in a "very dangerous situation in which personal
freedoms are subject to the approval of parliamentary
committees." Theater director Khalid Al Rowaie said, "This
is a dangerous precedent that will take us back to the Middle
Ages and the Inquisition." Fatima Bu Idrees, a board member
of the Bahrain Young Ladies Association, told the press, "Do
we need to silence culture more than it already is? As
representatives of the people, (members of parliament) should
encourage people to learn about other cultures."
8. (U) High-profile editors-in-chief Isa Al Shaiji (Al Ayam)
and Anwar Abdul Rahman (Akhbar Al Khaleej) wrote front page
editorials on the situation. Al Shaiji March 18 urged
courageous Bahraini voices that defend freedoms, tolerance,
and pluralism to speak up and protect the rights of the
people to enjoy the beauty of art and culture. He hoped that
policy makers listen to these voices because they represent a
wide sector of Bahraini society that believes in the essence
of democracy. On March 21, he warned that press freedom was
next on the list of parliamentary deputies who want to curb
culture and creativity. He proudly praised the position of
the Shura Council and civil society groups in support of
freedom of expression. Abdul Rahman March 17 asked, "Sirs,
who appointed you guardians of the people? If you insist on
acting as guardians of the people, you will push the people
into a state of unconsciousness and torpor from which they
will never awake."
9. (U) Cartoonists also joined in. Khalid Al Hashmi of Al
Ayam drew a picture of a welcome mat labeled "culture" in
front of the doors of parliament, where deputies wipe their
shoes before entering the chamber. Abdullah Al Muharraqi of
Akhbar Al Khaleej showed a traditionally dressed male MP
waving his finger at a songbird fully covered by an abaya and
niqab (the black robe and face-covering worn by some Arab
women) and chained to its perch, demanding that it "sing and
move my emotions."
--------------
Comment
--------------
MANAMA 00000265 003 OF 003
10. (C) Moderates and liberals have been in retreat since
being mostly ignored during the 2006 campaign season and
winning few seats in the November/December parliamentary and
municipal elections. Although it took a provocative step by
parliament to reawaken them, they have made their presence
felt by speaking out loudly and clearly against religious
interference in cultural affairs. Bahrain has a tradition of
openness and tolerance belied by the overwhelming presence of
Islamists in the COR. Many are happy to see the moderates
jumping into the fray. Crown Prince Salman told the
Ambassador March 18 "it's about time the liberals are pushing
back."
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE