VIGNETTES FROM AMBASSADOR'S VISIT TO CONSERVATIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000556

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ARP FOR SWALKER/BSHUKAN/RJACHIM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PHUM PTER SA
SUBJECT: VIGNETTES FROM AMBASSADOR'S VISIT TO CONSERVATIVE
QASSIM

Classified By: Ambassador James C. Oberwetter for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. (SBU) Ambassador traveled to Qassim Province, often
referred to as the heart of conservatism in Saudi Arabia, on
March 6 and 7. In addition to his meeting with the Governor
of Qassim Province Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz
(septel),Ambassador attended a dinner meeting with the
Qassim Chamber of Commerce (QCC) and visited the Saudi
joint-stock pharmaceutical factory Spimaco-Addwaeih. Located
in Al Qassim's Industrial City, the factory comprises 150,000
square meters and produces antibiotics, oral solids and
liquids, ointments, antiseptics, and biopharmaceuticals.
Ambassador also traveled to Unaizah -- sometimes called the
"Paris of Najd" -- where he visited the historical Al Bassam
and Al Hamdan homes, and local residents re-enacted a typical
"madrasas" and children's games, as well as traditional arts
and crafts. Ambassador also visited the market in Al
Midhnab, the Buraidah museum, and toured Uyun Al Jiwa.


2. (C) Throughout his visit to the Province, Ambassador was
warmly and enthusiastically received by officials and the
public alike. Qassimis were anxious to convey that they are
friends to the U.S. and want to attract investors to the
region. The official escort during the visit, Secretary
General of Qassim Regional Council Hamad Al Zaidan, several
times emphasized the importance of the visit, stating that,
"While we do not necessarily like your policies, we like
you." Although there were clear signs that Al Qassim is more
conservative than other parts of the Kingdom, our
interlocutors said this is slowly -- but surely -- changing.


3. (C) The complete absence of women in public was the most
glaring indicator that conservatism is alive and well in
Saudi Arabia's heartland. Women were not present on the
streets, at the museum, or in the factory. (NOTE: Spimaco's
Vice-President for Manufacturing and Logistics, Ahmed
Abdullah Al Rebdi, indicated that their facility was
constructed to accommodate female employees and there are
plans to hire women. However, Spimaco does not currently
have any female employees. END NOTE.) There were no women
in the market or at any of the historical sites. While
several women were spotted in the hotel restaurant, they were
all completely covered -- even wearing the niqab (face
covering). Additionally, while educational opportunities for
women in the Province have expanded (septel),employment
opportunities appear to remain limited to micro-enterprises
under the auspices of social and charitable organizations.


4. (C) Following the Spimaco tour, Al Zaidan noted that none
of the male employees had hesitated to shake hands with
female PolOff, pointing out the significance of this for such
a traditionally conservative area. (NOTE: As is often the
case with Muslim men, many Saudis will place their hands over
their heart to indicate that they do not wish to shake hands
with a woman. During the QCC event later in the evening
(septel),approximately 50 percent of the participants
preferred not to shake female PolOff's hand. END NOTE.) Al
Zaidan, who is from Qassim but was educated in the Eastern
Province, stated that Al Qassim Province is significantly
less conservative than it was 20 years ago. He identified
globalization (i.e., exposure to western ideas),Internet and
satellite access, and what he termed a younger and more
progressive population as the reasons behind this.


5. (C) Al Zaidan pointed to the make-up of the Buraidah
Municipal Council as an example of this progressive trend.
He told the Ambassador that everyone had initially thought
that because of its religious and conservative nature, the
populace would elect primarily religious people to the
Council. Instead, only two were elected -- the other four
included two engineers and two businesspeople. Al Zaidan
also suggested that although there are still strong tribal
affiliations throughout the region, there is increasing
"loyalty to the 'system'" in larger cities such as Buraidah.
He further suggested this has resulted in more liberal
thinking -- although he admitted that individuals very
quickly revert back to their tribal orientation in moments of
crisis.


6. (C) Although the Al Midhnab visit occurred just prior to
the early evening prayer, the market was crowded with people
clearly hoping to catch a glimpse of the Ambassador, and they

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followed him from stall to stall in what could almost be
described as a festive atmosphere. As the call to prayer
blared over loudspeakers, the crowds continued to gather and
some fathers positioned their small sons so they could see
the Ambassador. Al Zaidan later expressed dismay that the
mosque in Al Midhnab had broadcast the prayer over the
loudspeaker, saying Prince Faisal had specifically decreed
that only the call to prayer could be broadcast -- not any of
the sermons or readings of the Qur'an. He suggested that
limiting the audience to those who actually attend prayer --
as opposed to everyone within earshot -- would moderate the
influence of the religious establishment on the community.
As he dialed the authorities to report the infraction, he
emphasized that the Governor strictly enforces these rules
and has little tolerance for those who break them.


7. (C) COMMENT: Qassimis -- from the Governor on down --
made it clear that their goal is to facilitate the region's
economic development and attract international investment --
including increasing business-to-business relationships with
the U.S. To do this, Al Qassim region must work hard to
dispel the notion -- which exists even amongst its own
residents -- that its conservatism is an impediment to
growth. It is certainly in the Qassimis' best interests to
convey that they are welcoming, friendly, and progressive
enough to attract investment. Our interlocutors repeatedly
emphasized that being conservative does not mean they are
extremists or support extremist ideology. While Qassim has
taken steps to improve the region's reputation, it now
remains to be seen whether the push for progress will trump
the religious establishment or if the five opportunities the
imams have each day to influence the people will prove to be
too much. END COMMENT.
OBERWETTER