FROM QASSIM - ONE VIEW ON EDUCATIONAL REFORM AND

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000550 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS DEPT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ARP FOR SWALKER/BSHUKAN/RJACHIM E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2027 TAGS: PTER PGOV PINR PREL PHUM SUBJECT: FROM QASSIM - ONE VIEW ON EDUCATIONAL REFORM AND TERRORIST REHABILITATION Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission David Rundell for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S/NF) SUMMARY. Governor of Qassim Province Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and his advisor, Dr. Yousef Al Romaih, a professor at the University of Qassim, told Ambassador during their March 6 meeting that the merger of Imam College and Qassim University was a positive step that resulted in more resources and a lower student to professor ratio. Al Romaih said that to meet local needs, the University has added several new programs and that two community colleges have been established. One was opened in Buraidah in 2006, and the facility in Unaizah will open this year. Al Romaih stated that there are also increased educational and employment opportunities for women, although limited in nature. Al Romaih, who is involved in efforts to rehabilitate individuals arrested for extremism, advocates long-term re-education and re-integration as necessary components of a successful program. He indicated that he has worked with 16 individuals with no recidivism thus far. Al Romaih's efforts comprise just one slice of the broader MoI program aimed at re-educating and rehabilitating detainees. Preliminary information on MoI's program also indicates a low level of recidivism, and the numbers make a credible argument for the program. However, it is still new and too early to understand the program's long-term strategic impact. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Governor of Qassim Province Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud told Ambassador during their March 6 meeting that he is pleased with the overall progress in Qassim Province and the support of the SAG for initiatives there. He agreed that Qassim is extremely conservative and pointed out that the King visited Buraidah (capital of Qassim Province) last year carrying a message of economic development, reform, and tolerance. ¶3. (C) The Governor invited Dr. Yousef Al Romaih to join the meeting when the discussion turned to educational reform. (BIONOTE: Al Romaih holds a PhD in criminal science and was educated at various universities in the northwestern part of the U.S. He is a professor at the University of Qassim. END BIONOTE.) Al Romaih, whom Prince Faisal described as the �0A;head of his "think tank," stated that Iman College and the University of Qassim had been combined so that all resources would be co-located. He admitted to some initial concern that the prestige of the institution would decline, but said the change has resulted in more availability of resources and a lower ratio of students to professors. He added that the curriculum is basically the same; however the University has added several new programs, such as pharmaceuticals, which was driven by local needs. (NOTE: A large pharmaceuticals factory, Spimaco, is located in Qassim's "industrial city." END NOTE.) By responding to these local drivers, Al Romaih said that Qassim Province is positioned to meet "Saudization" goals, as well as increase services. ¶4. (C) In an effort to respond to the needs of those individuals who do not continue their education at the university level but still require job skills/training, two new "community" colleges have been established. The first opened in 2006 in Buraidah, and the second will open this year in Unaizah. Al Romaih said that students will receive certificates upon completion of their course of study, and will be able to transfer to the University if their grades are good enough. He emphasized that it is extremely advantageous for employers to hire students from these institutions because the government subsidizes their salaries at 50 to 75 percent for two years. He added that those skills that are most in demand -- Arabic and English language proficiency and computer science -- comprise the curriculum. Both the Prince and Al Romaih agreed that this kind of forward thinking did not exist in the Kingdom until recently. ¶5. (C) Al Romaih noted that the same opportunities are available for women -- just at separate facilities. He stated that there is a growing trend for employment of women vis-a-vis "social centers," where women are taught important capacity-building skills that will enable them to launch small enterprises. (NOTE: Head of the ladies branch of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce told PolOffs on March 4 that women RIYADH 00000550 002 OF 002 tend to gravitate towards such ventures -- especially those that provide services to other women -- and that capacity-building is their greatest training need. END NOTE.) ¶6. (C) Al Romaih continued that he is actively involved in "re-educating" individuals detained for extremism. He posited that what he described as the "takfiri problem" began with the Saudi youth who were recruited to go to Afghanistan in the 1980's and then sent back to teach this ideology to young, "ideologically fickle" Saudis. (NOTE: Al Romaih described takfirism as the concept of Muslims being deemed as "kafir" or non-believers due to their affiliation with U.S. or western thought. END NOTE.) He emphasized several times that this ideology must be addressed through education and not with arms. "It is easier to kill," he said, "but we must change minds," adding that the ideology is passed from generation to generation, therefore deeply inculcated in these youth. He admitted that "we do not follow 'takfiri people' but need to." He suggested that it is possible keep takfirism as a theoretical concept as opposed to one that mandates action, but insisted that very strong anti-terrorist ideology is a must. He stated bluntly that those who believe in extremist ideology must be "brainwashed" with anti-terrorist ideology and that it requires a great deal of time and effort. ¶7. (C) In order to prevent detainees from spreading extremist ideology, stated Al Romaih, they must be separated from the general population and experts must work with them to change their way of thinking. He added that detainees would not trust the police, so qualified individuals with credentials such as his are key to the re-education process. He cited his own success with such a program, saying that he has worked with 16 individuals thus far -- with no recidivism to date. (NOTE: Al Romaih works with individuals in detention facilities. He did not indicate whether his work is part of MoI's broader program, which uses such local resources. END NOTE.) He pointed out that re-education is a long-term commitment that requires up to two years, with additional work upon a detainee's release, in order to ensure effective re-integration into the community. ¶8. (S/NF) COMMENT: The Saudis have very much embraced this concept of "re-education" and, indeed, have had some initial, success. Al Romaih claimed he has experienced a 100 percent success rate, which taken on its own, is impressive. However, his is just one slice of the broader MoI program aimed at re-educating and rehabilitating detainees. Although preliminary information on MoI's program also indicates a low level of recidivism, the program is still new and it is too early to understand its long-term strategic impact. Clearly the Saudis are addressing extremism in a context that is relevant to them culturally. While it is still too early to know whether the Saudis' approach will be successful in the long term, Al Romaih -- and the numbers -- make a credible argument for the program. END COMMENT. OBERWETTER