SULTAN MAKES RARE MISSTEP IN PROHIBITING PUBLIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000857

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MU
SUBJECT: SULTAN MAKES RARE MISSTEP IN PROHIBITING PUBLIC
EID PRAYERS ON "WRONG" DATE

Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) Summary: Despite public criticism of its decision to
observe the start of the Eid al-Adha on December 9, one day
later than the rest of the GCC, the government sent security
officials into major mosques throughout Oman on December 8 to
enforce official circulars prohibiting the early start of Eid
prayers. Why Sultan Qaboos, who perhaps retains a more
absolute grip on power than any Gulf ruler, chose to
authorize such a heavy-handed undertaking is unknown. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) To the surprise of many Omanis, the government
announced in early December that the Muslim holiday of Eid
al-Adha would commence on December 9, rather than on December
8 as observed by the rest of the GCC and most Muslim-majority
countries. In bucking the regional trend, the government
stated adamantly that its official "Moon Sighting Committee"
had used valid astronomical and scientific criteria in
determining its "well-founded decision."


3. (C) The government's decision immediately became the
subject of widespread discussion among Omanis, including in
on-line fora and blogs. Many Omanis criticized the
government for contravening the large majority of Muslim
countries regarding the beginning of the Eid; several pointed
out that the Moon Sighting Committee was comprised only of
Ibadhi Muslims. (Note: While there are no official figures
or estimates, many observers believe that little more than
50% of Omanis adhere to the Ibadhi school of Islam, which
nevertheless dominates the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious
Affairs. Sunni Muslims may represent 45% of the total native
population and the vast majority of Omanis in the southern
Dhofar region. End Note.)


4. (C) In response to public criticism, the government had
both the Council of Ministers and the Majlis al-Shura (the
directly elected lower house of Oman's bicameral advisory
body) issues statements affirming the "accuracy" of its
determination of the start of the Eid. This did little to
persuade Omanis, however, as neither body is recognized as
having real authority to speak on religious matters.
Contacts report that several members of the Majlis al-Shura
refused to back the government's decision, but that the
Majlis Chairman nevertheless signed the statement on behalf
of the entire chamber anyway due to government pressure.
(Note: The government earlier directed the Majlis al-Shura
to denounce the State Department's Trafficking in Persons
(TIP) report on Oman despite the fact that most members had
probably never read the document. End Note.)


5. (C) Perhaps aware that some Omanis, particularly those
who live close to the Oman-UAE border, planned to observe the
start of the Eid on December 8, the government issued two
official circulars to enforce its declared start date for the
holiday. The second circular (a copy of which was obtained
by post) was published on December 7 and sent to all tribal
sheikhs and rasheeds (community leaders) in Oman, ordering
them to conduct Eid prayers only on December 9. The circular
stated that this directive came from Sultan Qaboos directly
and that "anyone who prays on a different date, despite being
advised, shall be subject to legal actions taken by the Royal
Oman Police."


6. (C) According to contacts, security officials and
representatives of the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious
Affairs entered major mosques throughout the Sultanate the
morning of December 8 and warned imams and those gathered
there not to conduct Eid prayers. At least one imam in
Dhofar was reportedly detained for defying the government's
Eid directive, but was later released. (Note: Popular
discontent with the Eid edict and the government's
enforcement of it is especially pronounced in the highly
Sunni governorate of Dhofar. End Note.) Interestingly,
several sources observed that attendance for Eid prayers the
morning of the following day (December 9) was significantly
down from prior years in at least several parts of the
country, including the capital. Judging from the active
discussion taking place in chat rooms and elsewhere, public
dissatisfaction related to this subject appears widespread
and not specific to any one sect.


7. (C) Comment: In addition to being unprecedented, this
episode helps illustrate the iron grip on power exercised by
Sultan Qaboos in Oman. While the Sultan usually wields his
authority lightly, especially on religious matters, his
decision to strictly enforce the local start of the Eid in
defiance of religious authorities in Saudi Arabia and public
criticism shows how heavy-handed he can be if he so chooses.
Perhaps no other ruler in the region would have attempted
this same move. This, of course, begs the question of why
the Sultan would go to such great lengths to dictate local

MUSCAT 00000857 002 OF 002


observance of the Eid. Some have speculated that his
decision was in response to pleas from Ibadhi leaders who
wish to assert Oman's distinct religious identity. No one,
however, can answer this question definitively except the
Sultan himself. End Comment.
GRAPPO