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)

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SUMMARY
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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.


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WANTED: EASIER VISAS AND MORE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING
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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.

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REGIONAL ISSUES
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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.

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REFORM, WOMEN AND RELIGION
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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.

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COMMENT
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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