Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JEDDAH178
2008-04-23 15:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA MARCH 21 AND 28,
how-toVZCZCXRO5906 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHJI #0178/01 1141516 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231516Z APR 08 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0674 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1698 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1777 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000178
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV SOCI KISL SA
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA MARCH 21 AND 28,
AND APRIL 4: EASTERN PROVINCE, MECCA, AND MEDINA
Classified By: Acting Consul General CB Toney for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000178
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV SOCI KISL SA
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA MARCH 21 AND 28,
AND APRIL 4: EASTERN PROVINCE, MECCA, AND MEDINA
Classified By: Acting Consul General CB Toney for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
1. (C) BEGIN SUMMARY: The Saudi government (SAG) has plans to
distribute to Imams and preachers "the ideas" (in particular
social topics) they want them to include in their Friday
sermons, according to a March 25 article featuring anonymous
SAG official remarks in Saudi Arabic-language daily Al Watan.
To enforce the plan, the SAG will require that the Imams and
preachers send copies of their sermons to the Ministry of
Islamic, Endowments, Call, and Guidance Affairs. In the
Eastern Province on March 21 and 28, and April 4, sermons
covered social topics such as the growing divorce rate.
Other topics included the release of Dutch MP Geert Wilder's
film "Fitna" (approximate translation: strife),which the
Imam described as an "insult" while adding that such acts
would not slow the spread of Islam.
2. (C) In Mecca and Medina -- while the sermons did not
mention the release of "Fitna" -- the Imams covered related
issues. In Mecca, the Imam on March 28 called on Muslims to
defend Muhammad "by all means and capabilities" but also
encouraged dialogue "with all human beings." Likewise, the
Imam in the March 28 sermon in Medina commented on freedom of
expression stating that people should exercise it
"within...the scale of religion." The March 21 and April 4
sermons focused on the importance of acting justly and
practicing one's faith as well as on the harms of smoking.
(COMMENT: Consistent with SAG policy, none of the March 21
sermons following Muhammad's March 20 birthday referenced the
event. END COMMENT) END SUMMARY.
--------------
KINGDOM-WIDE
--------------
MEDIA REPORTS SAG PLANS TO PROVIDE IMAMS WITH SERMON "IDEAS"
3. (U) The Ministry of Islamic, Endowments, Call, and
Guidance Affairs is finalizing "a study" to circulate to
Imams and preachers "the ideas" they want them to include in
their Friday sermons, according to a March 25 Al Watan
article featuring remarks from an anonymous Ministry
official. The official said that the sermons will address
social issues, such as domestic violence, the rights of
children, and youth problems.
4. (U) The plan, to have started at the end of March, is for
the Ministry to send monthly the ideas to the Imams. The
official added that preachers will have to send a copy of the
sermon to the Islamic Affairs Ministry Department of Mosques,
which the Department will then place in the preacher's file.
He explained that the purpose is to ensure that the preacher
adheres to the Ministry's preferred topics, according to the
article.
5. (U) In the past, the official alleged, follow-up
committees have supervised the Imams and if they determine
they have been absent three times in one month, they receive
a warning. The official estimated, according to the
newspaper, that there were approximately 50,000 Imams in the
Kingdom and stated that they worked in fields such as
government, business, and academia.
--------------
EASTERN PROVINCE
--------------
DEEMS DUTCH FILM "AN INSULT," WARNS AGAINST GROWING DIVORCE
RATE
6. (C) At the Omar bin Omar bin Abd al-Aziz Grand Mosque on
March 21, a substitute Imam spoke on the need for Muslims to
express their gratitude through daily prayer to God for what
he has given them. If they do not, he stated, God has the
ability to take away what he has provided. He also said that
history is full of people who forget and warned against
repeating mistakes of past generations.
7. (C) Sheikh Mohammad Saleh al-Munajjid in his March 28
sermon compared different faiths and discussed the reaction
to Dutch MP Geert Wilder's film "Fitna." He said that Islam
was a monolithic faith and also mentioned "the People of the
JEDDAH 00000178 002 OF 002
Book" (Christianity and Judaism) as well as other faiths,
including Buddhism and Hinduism. Regarding the film, he
deemed it "an insult" and an "attempt to paint...Muslim(s) as
bigots, terrorists and backward." He then condemned those
who question the Koran "without proof or evidence" while
adding that such acts will not slow the spread of Islam.
8. (C) Al-Munajjid discussed on April 4 the issue of divorce.
He warned that unless society does something "drastic" to
address the problem, the situation will continue to
deteriorate. He cited an example from the life of Prophet
Muhammad in which he advises couples to accept each other's
strengths and weaknesses. "The key", he added, "is to focus
on the positive aspects of your spouse's character" and
reiterated that in Islam divorce is a last resort.
--------------
MECCA
--------------
CALLS ON MUSLIMS TO DEFEND MUHAMMAD, ENCOURAGES DIALOGUE
AMONG ALL HUMAN BEINGS
9. (U) On March 21 Sheikh Usama Bin-Abdallah Khayyat at the
Mecca Grand Mosque warned against allowing "the recalcitrance
of emotions" to affect the value of justice or other people's
rights. He added that people should stand for justice, and
"follow not the lusts" of their hearts.
10. (U) Sheikh Dr. Abd-al-Rahman Bin-Abd-al-Aziz al-Sudays on
March 28 spoke on the state of Arabs before Islam, stating
that Muhammad "rescued the world." He then said that the
message of Islam includes "justice, peace, guidance, dignity,
and glory" and urged Muslims to defend Muhammad by "all means
and capabilities." He also said that the "initiative" of
Mecca and Medina call for "human coexistence that guarantees
respect for the (holy) messages (Judaism and
Christianity)..." and dialogue "between all human beings" to
achieve "security" and "safety."
11. (U) Islamic law and how it creates benefits and realizes
interests was the focus of Sheikh Dr. Salih Bin-Humayd's
April 4 sermon. He stated that it deters "forbidden things,"
"evils," and "harms." He then discussed the dangers of
smoking and called for "issuing laws, regulations, and harsh
instructions" to prevent it.
--------------
MEDINA
--------------
DESCRIBES ISLAM AS GUARANTOR OF FREEDOM, QUALIFIES PRACTICE
OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
12. (U) On March 21 Sheikh Salah al-Budayr spoke on the heart
as "a center of faith" and stated how people with faith will
be able to "renounce and reject tumults." Sheikh Ali
Abd-al-Rahman al-Hudhayfi's March 28 sermon stressed the
importance of "good offspring, which worship God," as well as
the (recurring) theme of doing what is right and shunning
what is wrong.
13. (U) Sheikh Abd-al-Bari al-Thubayti on April 4 discussed
how Islam promotes and guarantees individual freedom, arguing
that "humiliation and slavery to God" liberates people from
"the power of bodily appetites...." However, he added that
some of history's worst crimes have been committed in the
name of freedom. He also commented on freedom of expression,
stating that it does not mean that one can say what they
want, but rather, that they exercise this freedom
"within...the scale of religion."
TONEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV SOCI KISL SA
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA MARCH 21 AND 28,
AND APRIL 4: EASTERN PROVINCE, MECCA, AND MEDINA
Classified By: Acting Consul General CB Toney for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
1. (C) BEGIN SUMMARY: The Saudi government (SAG) has plans to
distribute to Imams and preachers "the ideas" (in particular
social topics) they want them to include in their Friday
sermons, according to a March 25 article featuring anonymous
SAG official remarks in Saudi Arabic-language daily Al Watan.
To enforce the plan, the SAG will require that the Imams and
preachers send copies of their sermons to the Ministry of
Islamic, Endowments, Call, and Guidance Affairs. In the
Eastern Province on March 21 and 28, and April 4, sermons
covered social topics such as the growing divorce rate.
Other topics included the release of Dutch MP Geert Wilder's
film "Fitna" (approximate translation: strife),which the
Imam described as an "insult" while adding that such acts
would not slow the spread of Islam.
2. (C) In Mecca and Medina -- while the sermons did not
mention the release of "Fitna" -- the Imams covered related
issues. In Mecca, the Imam on March 28 called on Muslims to
defend Muhammad "by all means and capabilities" but also
encouraged dialogue "with all human beings." Likewise, the
Imam in the March 28 sermon in Medina commented on freedom of
expression stating that people should exercise it
"within...the scale of religion." The March 21 and April 4
sermons focused on the importance of acting justly and
practicing one's faith as well as on the harms of smoking.
(COMMENT: Consistent with SAG policy, none of the March 21
sermons following Muhammad's March 20 birthday referenced the
event. END COMMENT) END SUMMARY.
--------------
KINGDOM-WIDE
--------------
MEDIA REPORTS SAG PLANS TO PROVIDE IMAMS WITH SERMON "IDEAS"
3. (U) The Ministry of Islamic, Endowments, Call, and
Guidance Affairs is finalizing "a study" to circulate to
Imams and preachers "the ideas" they want them to include in
their Friday sermons, according to a March 25 Al Watan
article featuring remarks from an anonymous Ministry
official. The official said that the sermons will address
social issues, such as domestic violence, the rights of
children, and youth problems.
4. (U) The plan, to have started at the end of March, is for
the Ministry to send monthly the ideas to the Imams. The
official added that preachers will have to send a copy of the
sermon to the Islamic Affairs Ministry Department of Mosques,
which the Department will then place in the preacher's file.
He explained that the purpose is to ensure that the preacher
adheres to the Ministry's preferred topics, according to the
article.
5. (U) In the past, the official alleged, follow-up
committees have supervised the Imams and if they determine
they have been absent three times in one month, they receive
a warning. The official estimated, according to the
newspaper, that there were approximately 50,000 Imams in the
Kingdom and stated that they worked in fields such as
government, business, and academia.
--------------
EASTERN PROVINCE
--------------
DEEMS DUTCH FILM "AN INSULT," WARNS AGAINST GROWING DIVORCE
RATE
6. (C) At the Omar bin Omar bin Abd al-Aziz Grand Mosque on
March 21, a substitute Imam spoke on the need for Muslims to
express their gratitude through daily prayer to God for what
he has given them. If they do not, he stated, God has the
ability to take away what he has provided. He also said that
history is full of people who forget and warned against
repeating mistakes of past generations.
7. (C) Sheikh Mohammad Saleh al-Munajjid in his March 28
sermon compared different faiths and discussed the reaction
to Dutch MP Geert Wilder's film "Fitna." He said that Islam
was a monolithic faith and also mentioned "the People of the
JEDDAH 00000178 002 OF 002
Book" (Christianity and Judaism) as well as other faiths,
including Buddhism and Hinduism. Regarding the film, he
deemed it "an insult" and an "attempt to paint...Muslim(s) as
bigots, terrorists and backward." He then condemned those
who question the Koran "without proof or evidence" while
adding that such acts will not slow the spread of Islam.
8. (C) Al-Munajjid discussed on April 4 the issue of divorce.
He warned that unless society does something "drastic" to
address the problem, the situation will continue to
deteriorate. He cited an example from the life of Prophet
Muhammad in which he advises couples to accept each other's
strengths and weaknesses. "The key", he added, "is to focus
on the positive aspects of your spouse's character" and
reiterated that in Islam divorce is a last resort.
--------------
MECCA
--------------
CALLS ON MUSLIMS TO DEFEND MUHAMMAD, ENCOURAGES DIALOGUE
AMONG ALL HUMAN BEINGS
9. (U) On March 21 Sheikh Usama Bin-Abdallah Khayyat at the
Mecca Grand Mosque warned against allowing "the recalcitrance
of emotions" to affect the value of justice or other people's
rights. He added that people should stand for justice, and
"follow not the lusts" of their hearts.
10. (U) Sheikh Dr. Abd-al-Rahman Bin-Abd-al-Aziz al-Sudays on
March 28 spoke on the state of Arabs before Islam, stating
that Muhammad "rescued the world." He then said that the
message of Islam includes "justice, peace, guidance, dignity,
and glory" and urged Muslims to defend Muhammad by "all means
and capabilities." He also said that the "initiative" of
Mecca and Medina call for "human coexistence that guarantees
respect for the (holy) messages (Judaism and
Christianity)..." and dialogue "between all human beings" to
achieve "security" and "safety."
11. (U) Islamic law and how it creates benefits and realizes
interests was the focus of Sheikh Dr. Salih Bin-Humayd's
April 4 sermon. He stated that it deters "forbidden things,"
"evils," and "harms." He then discussed the dangers of
smoking and called for "issuing laws, regulations, and harsh
instructions" to prevent it.
--------------
MEDINA
--------------
DESCRIBES ISLAM AS GUARANTOR OF FREEDOM, QUALIFIES PRACTICE
OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
12. (U) On March 21 Sheikh Salah al-Budayr spoke on the heart
as "a center of faith" and stated how people with faith will
be able to "renounce and reject tumults." Sheikh Ali
Abd-al-Rahman al-Hudhayfi's March 28 sermon stressed the
importance of "good offspring, which worship God," as well as
the (recurring) theme of doing what is right and shunning
what is wrong.
13. (U) Sheikh Abd-al-Bari al-Thubayti on April 4 discussed
how Islam promotes and guarantees individual freedom, arguing
that "humiliation and slavery to God" liberates people from
"the power of bodily appetites...." However, he added that
some of history's worst crimes have been committed in the
name of freedom. He also commented on freedom of expression,
stating that it does not mean that one can say what they
want, but rather, that they exercise this freedom
"within...the scale of religion."
TONEY