Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIYADH1620
2008-10-29 10:12:00
SECRET
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:  

NO INDICATION SAG HAS CHANGED POLICY ON TAIF

Tags:  ELAB KIRF KISL KTIP PHUM SA SMIG SOCI XF 
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VZCZCXRO7846
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV
DE RUEHRH #1620 3031012
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 291012Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9460
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHZJ/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH IMMEDIATE 9825
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9461
S E C R E T RIYADH 001620 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2018
TAGS: ELAB KIRF KISL KTIP PHUM SA SMIG SOCI XF
SUBJECT: NO INDICATION SAG HAS CHANGED POLICY ON TAIF
CHRISTIANS

REF: A) JEDDAH 00448

Classified By: Classified by CDA David Rundell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

S E C R E T RIYADH 001620

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2018
TAGS: ELAB KIRF KISL KTIP PHUM SA SMIG SOCI XF
SUBJECT: NO INDICATION SAG HAS CHANGED POLICY ON TAIF
CHRISTIANS

REF: A) JEDDAH 00448

Classified By: Classified by CDA David Rundell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) In an October 27 meeting with Saudi Assistant
Minister for National Security Affairs Prince Mohammed bin
Naif (MBN),Charge Rundell raised the issue of the Taif
Christians (ref A). MBN reiterated previous assurances that
the deportation orders in question had been rescinded.
Nevertheless, he promised he would investigate if the Embassy
could provide a list of names and passport numbers of the
individuals in question. These were supplied the next
morning.


2. (S) COMMENT: Embassy has no evidence that that SAG policy
on this issue has changed. Those imprisoned earlier were
released, and to our knowledge, none have been deported. As
ref A points out, it is very difficult to verify the claims
made by our source, "Abraham." In any case, even assuming
that what the source says is true, he alleges that it is the
Mecca Governorate, and not the MOI, that has refused to lift
the deportation orders. This could be an attempt by some
elements within the Governorate to embarrass the SAG on the
eve of King Abdallah,s visit to New York to promote his
Interfaith Dialogue Initiative (IDI),which is extremely
unpopular in conservative religious circles. However, given
that none of what Abraham says can be corroborated, at this
point it would be premature to come to any conclusions. END
COMMENT

RUNDELL