OMANI WOMEN SPEAK OUT ON U.S. POLICIES AND OTHER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000169 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2018 TAGS: PREL KDEM KMPI KPAO KWMN CVIS MU SUBJECT: OMANI WOMEN SPEAK OUT ON U.S. POLICIES AND OTHER TOPICS REF: 07 MUSCAT 1040 Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) A group of Omani women in a small-group discussion with the Ambassador shared their concern over the U.S. visa issuance process and misperceptions among Americans about the Middle East. While disagreeing with some U.S. policies, the women stressed their positive views about the American people and urged greater educational and cultural exchanges to increase mutual understanding. Shying away from directly discussing "democracy," the group agreed on the need for greater public participation (particularly by women) in Omani governance and society, as well as the need for more entrepreneurship and private sector employment opportunities. The women also voiced strong appreciation for Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) programs. Discussion participants disagreed, however, on whether a trend by Omani women to completely cover their heads and faces -- allegedly in response to discomfort with an increasingly secular outside world -- was a negative development. End Summary. -------------- -------------- WANTED: EASIER VISAS AND MORE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In the second of a series of small-scale discussion groups designed to elicit candid Omani views on selected subjects (reftel),the Ambassador hosted nine well-educated Omani women at his residence on February 12 to share and exchange their opinions on U.S. foreign policies and related topics. To encourage free conversation and to limit governmental biases, all of the women invited were from the private sector or academia. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador began the event by explaining the purpose of the discussion and then asked what was the women's greatest concern regarding current U.S. government policies. After an initial pause, one of the women stated that she was disappointed with the U.S. visa system and with how difficult it had become to obtain a visa to travel to the United States after September 11, 2001. Other women in the group expressed similar misgivings over U.S. visa issuance. Some discussion participants related that concerns over visas and perceived anti-Arab/Muslim discrimination in the U.S. had sparked a growing trend of Omani students opting to go to Canada, rather than the U.S., for their overseas education. Countering this sentiment, one woman recalled her multiple visits to the U.S., all without incident or problems, since ¶2001. ¶4. (SBU) The group also shared their frustration with America's image of the Middle East, which they believed was unbalanced and inaccurate. The women said that the U.S. media should show a broader range of Muslims in the region, highlighting positive examples of people to balance the negative ones. The guests believed wholeheartedly in the need for educational exchanges to foster mutual cultural respect and understanding. Several spoke positively of their or their children's experiences studying abroad and of the importance of sending student representatives to other countries. While the women were vocal in their requests for a concerted U.S. effort to better understand the Middle East, they were even more critical of themselves as they examined their own actions. For example, the women said that in addition to actively seeking to comprehend other cultures and religions, they should also seek to be better understood by others. Each woman agreed she needs to be an ambassador for Oman and, more broadly, for Arabs and Islam, to the world. ¶5. (SBU) The women also expressed a common theme heard repeatedly in this part of the world -- that they made a distinction between the U.S. government and the American people. While they admired Americans, group members asserted that they did not agree with some of the decisions made by U.S. government policy-makers. One participant stated she would like to see more Muslim-Americans representing Muslim interests in the government decision-making process. Another pointedly remarked on the U.S.'s "double standard" when it comes to human rights and democracy in the Middle East, selectively "picking on" some nations while ignoring others who might be more cooperative with the U.S. on security issues. -------------- REGIONAL ISSUES -------------- MUSCAT 00000169 002 OF 002 ¶6. (SBU) When the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict inevitably arose, the guests discussed perceived lobbying efforts by Israel to sway U.S. and world opinion, as well as the role of the media in the conflict. Although the women clearly empathized with the plight of the Palestinian people, they appeared to want to move on to other issues, rather than engage in a prolonged discussion on this topic. Moving to Iraq, one woman shared her opinion that the U.S. needs to remain in Iraq until the country is stable enough to function effectively and securely without American troops on the ground. -------------- REFORM, WOMEN AND RELIGION -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Rather than directly discuss "democracy" in the Middle East, the women talked about increased public participation as a general theme, including the need for a larger role for women in government and business. In discussing governance, group members drew a connection between stable countries and successful economies. Many felt that Oman needs to focus on improving entrepreneurial opportunities in the private sector to create more jobs for the growing population. All praised the efforts of U.S. reform programs under the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). Several women related how they had benefited directly from MEPI by participating in programs such as MEET US and the Mini-MBA program; they asked for more American assistance in building Omani entrepreneurship and in advancing the role of women. All of the participants agreed that the female candidates in the October 2007 elections for the Majlis al-Shura had not campaigned effectively. Omani women would have to work harder, they argued, to win seats in the next elections in 2011. ¶8. (C) Somewhat surprisingly, discussion of U.S. reform promotion efforts in the region turned towards the role of religion in Omani society. One participant shared her discomfort with the increasing number of women who are in hijab and niqab. (Note: The hijab generally covers a woman's hair and neck, while the niqab completely covers the face except for a slit for the eyes, which in some instances may be covered with transparent material. End Note.) She noted what she saw as the growing popularity of the niqab as both a fashion trend and a response to "globalization." She further claimed that some women, who feel the outside and increasingly secular world "closing in on them," choose to wear the hijab and niqab to "keep that world at bay" and to assert and maintain their identity as a Muslim. This same discussion participant, who was unveiled, continued that she was disturbed by this trend because of her or anyone's inability to communicate with women who cover their faces. (Note: All but two of the guests were in hijab. End Note.) Others in the group did not necessarily agree there was something disconcerting about this new practice. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Comment: The women appeared to be frank and earnest in voicing their views, particularly as the evening progressed. They also seemed to appreciate the opportunity to share both their criticisms of and appreciation for the U.S. and Arab world, as well as their concerns for the region. Their unanimous approval of and request for more MEPI programming was especially helpful and gratifying in light of Oman's reluctant embrace of MEPI five years ago. In addition to disagreeing with some American policies and attitudes (as they perceived them),the group expressed disappointment with Omani policy-makers and asked for U.S. assistance in training them. Throughout the event, the theme of mutual understanding was often raised as a way to help resolve the different concerns discussed. End Comment. GRAPPO