Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIYADH190
2008-02-10 14:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
CONFRONTING INTOLERANCE IN SAUDI MOSQUES
how-toVZCZCXRO6442 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHRH #0190/01 0411456 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 101456Z FEB 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7554 INFO RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 9379 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 RIYADH 000190
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR NEA GGRAY, IRF FOR AGOMBIS, S/CT FOR EINGALLS,
AND NEA/ARP FOR ASTEINFELD/RJACHIM/SRAMESH.
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2018
TAGS: PTER KISL PGOV SA
SUBJECT: CONFRONTING INTOLERANCE IN SAUDI MOSQUES
RIYADH 00000190 001.3 OF 003
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 RIYADH 000190
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR NEA GGRAY, IRF FOR AGOMBIS, S/CT FOR EINGALLS,
AND NEA/ARP FOR ASTEINFELD/RJACHIM/SRAMESH.
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2018
TAGS: PTER KISL PGOV SA
SUBJECT: CONFRONTING INTOLERANCE IN SAUDI MOSQUES
RIYADH 00000190 001.3 OF 003
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Acting/DCM and PolOff met with Assistant
Deputy Minister for Islamic Affairs (MOIA) Dr. Abdullah
al-Lheedan on February 3 to discuss SAG efforts to combat
extremism. Al-Lheedan focused on SAG efforts to monitor and
rehabilitate intolerant imams. He also touched on the
charities and textbooks reforms. According to al-Lheedan,
the SAG supports approximately 70,000 imams inside Saudi
Arabia and 500 overseas imams. A country-wide program, which
began in 2003, continues to monitor and re-educate imams with
"wrong interpretations of relations with non-Muslims and
non-Muslim countries." The SAG fired 1300 imams between
2003-2006; however, some returned to their posts after
reeducation and reconciliation with the SAG. In general,
al-Lheedan considered the program successful, because there
were fewer "bad imams" reported in 2007. The SAG has a
program for monitoring its imams abroad, but it is less
robust than the domestic program. In addition to
rehabilitating imams, al-Lheedan underscored the importance
of re-educating teachers, whose wrong interpretations of
textbooks and religious precepts, is more dangerous than the
texts themselves. END SUMMARY.
--------------
MOIA BACKGROUND
--------------
2. (C) Acting/DCM and PolOff met with Assistant Deputy
Minister for Islamic Affairs Dr. Abdullah al-Lheedan on
February 3 to discuss SAG efforts to combat extremism.
Al-Lheedan, who received his Ph.D. in Political Science from
the University of Southern California, directs the external
programs of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call, Guidance,
and Endowments (MOIA). He has traveled extensively
throughout Africa, monitoring MOIA-funded programs, and is
preparing to visit India and Pakistan shortly for the same
purpose. Al-Lheedan began by noting that MOIA is part of the
Saudi Government. King Fahd established the ministry in 1993
to provide a bridge between the semi-autonomous religious
leadership and the SAG. According to al-Leheedan, the MOIA's
first minister, Dr. Abdullah al-Turki, was a good manager,
but "not effective" with the religious communities. Al-Turki
left MOIA after seven years and is now the Secretary General
of the Muslim World League. Al-Lheedan labeled current MOIA
Minister, Sheik Saleh bin Abdul Aziz Al al-Sheik, as a
"reformer", a well respected descendant of Mohammed ibn Abdel
Wahhab and someone able to unite different communities.
--------------
SAG SUPPORT TO SAUDI AND FOREIGN IMAMS
--------------
3. (C) Al-Lheedan stated that the MOIA supports approximately
70,000 imams across the country. Imams are chosen by their
congregations and approved by the MOIA. Based on the size of
their congregation, imams receive monthly stipends of either
USD 480, 580, or 690. In addition, imams who deliver the
Friday prayers receive an additional monthly stipend of USD
425. Al-Lheedan added that the MOIA also supports 500
international imams, who receive on average USD 200-300 per
month. Overseas, the MOIA prefers to support foreign imams
who have studied in Saudi institutes, rather than Saudi
imams. He remarked that the American program, which
supported 6 American imams, ended after the September 11
attacks because of anti-Saudi sentiments. He confirmed that
stipends for foreign and domestic imams only supplement their
incomes, as all have other full-time jobs.
--------------
SAG INSTITUTES FOR TRAINING IMAMS
--------------
4. (C) Al-Lheedan explained that there are three primary
institutes for training Saudi imams -- Islamic University of
Medina, Umm al-Qura University in Mecca, and Imam Mohammed
bin Saud University in Riyadh. There are also three main
institutes for training members of the Commission to Promote
Virtue and Prevent Vice -- Taiba University in Medina, Umm
al-Qura University in Mecca, and Imam Mohammed bin Saud
University in Riyadh. He described the Riyadh-based school
as the most conservative and the Mecca-based school as the
most open-minded. Most foreign students go to Medina
--------------
RIYADH 00000190 002 OF 003
SAG MONITORS SAUDI AND FOREIGN IMAMS
--------------
5. (C) In 2003 the MOIA created a program to monitor imams.
The program created a committee of five to seven senior
religious scholars in each Saudi province. Each committee
supervises numerous three-man teams who monitor all mosques
and imams within their province. Based on the teams'
periodic reports, the provincial committees summon imams
accused of preaching intolerance to meet with them and
discuss their ideas. Senior sheiks have also urged ordinary
citizens to report misguided imams to the MOIA. If the
provincial religious scholars are not able to dissuade the
deviant imam of his intolerant thinking, then the imam is
summoned to Riyadh for a more intensive, longer-term training.
6. (C) The imam monitoring and rehabilitation program was
intended to run from 2003 to 2006. However the current
minister has extended the program till 2009. According to
al-Lheedan, MOIA dismissed 1300 imams between 2003-2006
because they resisted changing their perspectives despite the
provincial and Riyadh-based training. When asked why imams
were actually fired, al-Lheedan replied that promoting
intolerance of non-Muslims and non-Muslim countries was the
MOIA's most serious concern. He added that some imams had
returned to their posts after reconciliation with the MOIA.
Al-Lheedan considered the program to be successful, because
of the fewer "bad imams" being reported now.
7. (C) The 500 foreign imams are currently required to submit
periodic written reports to MOIA officials describing their
views of jihad, treatment of non-Muslims, and other Islamic
concepts. Al-Lheedan did not regard this as adequate
supervision since he could not confirm that what the imams
wrote in a report to the Saudi Government necessarily
reflected what they said in the mosque. However, it was
difficult and expensive to monitor imams outside of the
country. Minister al Al-Sheik also considers the current
arrangements inadequate and plans to establish an
international monitoring program similar to the one operating
in the Kingdom.
-------------- ---
SAG FORBIDS INTERNATIONAL FUNDRAISING IN MOSQUES
-------------- ---
8. (C) According to al-Lheedan a Royal Order was issued
several years ago to stop Saudi charities sending money
overseas. Al-Leheedan said he knew about this because these
charities had fallen under the MOIA jurisdiction. In this
respect they differed from domestic charities which fall
under the Ministry of Social Affairs and still collect funds
to be spent locally. According to al-Leheedan, the Saudi
government still sends funds abroad through organizations
like the Red Crescent and Muslim World League. However,
private fundraising for overseas charities, as opposed to
government sanctioned and controlled fund drives, has stopped.
--------------
EDUCATION REFORMS
--------------
9. (C) Al-leheedan said that like the Minister of Islamic
Affairs, Education Minister Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh al-Obaid
is also a reformer who can bring together diverse groups. As
a former Secretary General of the Muslim World League and
Rector of the Islamic University of Medina, Minister al-Obaid
is well-respected by religious groups. Contrary to what some
western observers thought his appointment represented not a
step backwards, but a "practical way forward". Al-Lheedan
considers al-Obaid to an effective reformer, who is
spearheading the joint Ministry of Islamic Affairs-Ministry
of Education anti-extremism campaign.
10. (C) In addition to rehabilitating imams, al-Lheedan
stressed that it is vital to re-educate Saudi teachers. He
noted that it is much more difficult to monitor the 300,000
teachers than 70,000 imams. He stated that textbooks are
being revised to eliminate intolerant language. He described
a chart from 2007 that outlined the changes in specific
textbooks before and after revision. Comment: Post has asked
the Ministry of Education for a copy of this chart. End
Comment.
11. (C) According to Al-Lheedan, the SAG oversimplified
textbooks in the 1980s, which "lead to multiple
RIYADH 00000190 003 OF 003
interpretations and abuses by teachers." He added that the
MOE has now "removed unclear language from the primary school
textbooks, clarified the language in the middle school
textbooks, and offered detailed explanations in the high
school textbooks." Al-Leheedan stated that we are moving
from "the defensive to the offensive". He explained that by
this he meant that having removed most intolerant language
from Saudi textbooks, the MOIA now wanted to insert tolerant
language. He echoed other Embassy contacts in emphasizing
that the problem is the teachers -- not the textbooks.
10. (C) COMMENT: Al-Leheedan remarked more than once that
there is now a consensus for reform within the SAG that
includes the King, Crown Prince and Senior Ulemah. His
implication was that such a concensus had not always existed.
We would agree. Only since 2003 has the SAG recognized
religious intolerance as practiced by Takfiri zealots to be a
direct threat to the regime. This led the twin pillars of
Saudi stability, the princes and the religious scholars, to
close ranks in an unprecedented and ongoing effort to remove
the seeds of terrorism from Saudi mosques. How such efforts
are proceeding overseas remains less clear. END COMMENT.
GFOELLER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR NEA GGRAY, IRF FOR AGOMBIS, S/CT FOR EINGALLS,
AND NEA/ARP FOR ASTEINFELD/RJACHIM/SRAMESH.
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2018
TAGS: PTER KISL PGOV SA
SUBJECT: CONFRONTING INTOLERANCE IN SAUDI MOSQUES
RIYADH 00000190 001.3 OF 003
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Acting/DCM and PolOff met with Assistant
Deputy Minister for Islamic Affairs (MOIA) Dr. Abdullah
al-Lheedan on February 3 to discuss SAG efforts to combat
extremism. Al-Lheedan focused on SAG efforts to monitor and
rehabilitate intolerant imams. He also touched on the
charities and textbooks reforms. According to al-Lheedan,
the SAG supports approximately 70,000 imams inside Saudi
Arabia and 500 overseas imams. A country-wide program, which
began in 2003, continues to monitor and re-educate imams with
"wrong interpretations of relations with non-Muslims and
non-Muslim countries." The SAG fired 1300 imams between
2003-2006; however, some returned to their posts after
reeducation and reconciliation with the SAG. In general,
al-Lheedan considered the program successful, because there
were fewer "bad imams" reported in 2007. The SAG has a
program for monitoring its imams abroad, but it is less
robust than the domestic program. In addition to
rehabilitating imams, al-Lheedan underscored the importance
of re-educating teachers, whose wrong interpretations of
textbooks and religious precepts, is more dangerous than the
texts themselves. END SUMMARY.
--------------
MOIA BACKGROUND
--------------
2. (C) Acting/DCM and PolOff met with Assistant Deputy
Minister for Islamic Affairs Dr. Abdullah al-Lheedan on
February 3 to discuss SAG efforts to combat extremism.
Al-Lheedan, who received his Ph.D. in Political Science from
the University of Southern California, directs the external
programs of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call, Guidance,
and Endowments (MOIA). He has traveled extensively
throughout Africa, monitoring MOIA-funded programs, and is
preparing to visit India and Pakistan shortly for the same
purpose. Al-Lheedan began by noting that MOIA is part of the
Saudi Government. King Fahd established the ministry in 1993
to provide a bridge between the semi-autonomous religious
leadership and the SAG. According to al-Leheedan, the MOIA's
first minister, Dr. Abdullah al-Turki, was a good manager,
but "not effective" with the religious communities. Al-Turki
left MOIA after seven years and is now the Secretary General
of the Muslim World League. Al-Lheedan labeled current MOIA
Minister, Sheik Saleh bin Abdul Aziz Al al-Sheik, as a
"reformer", a well respected descendant of Mohammed ibn Abdel
Wahhab and someone able to unite different communities.
--------------
SAG SUPPORT TO SAUDI AND FOREIGN IMAMS
--------------
3. (C) Al-Lheedan stated that the MOIA supports approximately
70,000 imams across the country. Imams are chosen by their
congregations and approved by the MOIA. Based on the size of
their congregation, imams receive monthly stipends of either
USD 480, 580, or 690. In addition, imams who deliver the
Friday prayers receive an additional monthly stipend of USD
425. Al-Lheedan added that the MOIA also supports 500
international imams, who receive on average USD 200-300 per
month. Overseas, the MOIA prefers to support foreign imams
who have studied in Saudi institutes, rather than Saudi
imams. He remarked that the American program, which
supported 6 American imams, ended after the September 11
attacks because of anti-Saudi sentiments. He confirmed that
stipends for foreign and domestic imams only supplement their
incomes, as all have other full-time jobs.
--------------
SAG INSTITUTES FOR TRAINING IMAMS
--------------
4. (C) Al-Lheedan explained that there are three primary
institutes for training Saudi imams -- Islamic University of
Medina, Umm al-Qura University in Mecca, and Imam Mohammed
bin Saud University in Riyadh. There are also three main
institutes for training members of the Commission to Promote
Virtue and Prevent Vice -- Taiba University in Medina, Umm
al-Qura University in Mecca, and Imam Mohammed bin Saud
University in Riyadh. He described the Riyadh-based school
as the most conservative and the Mecca-based school as the
most open-minded. Most foreign students go to Medina
--------------
RIYADH 00000190 002 OF 003
SAG MONITORS SAUDI AND FOREIGN IMAMS
--------------
5. (C) In 2003 the MOIA created a program to monitor imams.
The program created a committee of five to seven senior
religious scholars in each Saudi province. Each committee
supervises numerous three-man teams who monitor all mosques
and imams within their province. Based on the teams'
periodic reports, the provincial committees summon imams
accused of preaching intolerance to meet with them and
discuss their ideas. Senior sheiks have also urged ordinary
citizens to report misguided imams to the MOIA. If the
provincial religious scholars are not able to dissuade the
deviant imam of his intolerant thinking, then the imam is
summoned to Riyadh for a more intensive, longer-term training.
6. (C) The imam monitoring and rehabilitation program was
intended to run from 2003 to 2006. However the current
minister has extended the program till 2009. According to
al-Lheedan, MOIA dismissed 1300 imams between 2003-2006
because they resisted changing their perspectives despite the
provincial and Riyadh-based training. When asked why imams
were actually fired, al-Lheedan replied that promoting
intolerance of non-Muslims and non-Muslim countries was the
MOIA's most serious concern. He added that some imams had
returned to their posts after reconciliation with the MOIA.
Al-Lheedan considered the program to be successful, because
of the fewer "bad imams" being reported now.
7. (C) The 500 foreign imams are currently required to submit
periodic written reports to MOIA officials describing their
views of jihad, treatment of non-Muslims, and other Islamic
concepts. Al-Lheedan did not regard this as adequate
supervision since he could not confirm that what the imams
wrote in a report to the Saudi Government necessarily
reflected what they said in the mosque. However, it was
difficult and expensive to monitor imams outside of the
country. Minister al Al-Sheik also considers the current
arrangements inadequate and plans to establish an
international monitoring program similar to the one operating
in the Kingdom.
-------------- ---
SAG FORBIDS INTERNATIONAL FUNDRAISING IN MOSQUES
-------------- ---
8. (C) According to al-Lheedan a Royal Order was issued
several years ago to stop Saudi charities sending money
overseas. Al-Leheedan said he knew about this because these
charities had fallen under the MOIA jurisdiction. In this
respect they differed from domestic charities which fall
under the Ministry of Social Affairs and still collect funds
to be spent locally. According to al-Leheedan, the Saudi
government still sends funds abroad through organizations
like the Red Crescent and Muslim World League. However,
private fundraising for overseas charities, as opposed to
government sanctioned and controlled fund drives, has stopped.
--------------
EDUCATION REFORMS
--------------
9. (C) Al-leheedan said that like the Minister of Islamic
Affairs, Education Minister Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh al-Obaid
is also a reformer who can bring together diverse groups. As
a former Secretary General of the Muslim World League and
Rector of the Islamic University of Medina, Minister al-Obaid
is well-respected by religious groups. Contrary to what some
western observers thought his appointment represented not a
step backwards, but a "practical way forward". Al-Lheedan
considers al-Obaid to an effective reformer, who is
spearheading the joint Ministry of Islamic Affairs-Ministry
of Education anti-extremism campaign.
10. (C) In addition to rehabilitating imams, al-Lheedan
stressed that it is vital to re-educate Saudi teachers. He
noted that it is much more difficult to monitor the 300,000
teachers than 70,000 imams. He stated that textbooks are
being revised to eliminate intolerant language. He described
a chart from 2007 that outlined the changes in specific
textbooks before and after revision. Comment: Post has asked
the Ministry of Education for a copy of this chart. End
Comment.
11. (C) According to Al-Lheedan, the SAG oversimplified
textbooks in the 1980s, which "lead to multiple
RIYADH 00000190 003 OF 003
interpretations and abuses by teachers." He added that the
MOE has now "removed unclear language from the primary school
textbooks, clarified the language in the middle school
textbooks, and offered detailed explanations in the high
school textbooks." Al-Leheedan stated that we are moving
from "the defensive to the offensive". He explained that by
this he meant that having removed most intolerant language
from Saudi textbooks, the MOIA now wanted to insert tolerant
language. He echoed other Embassy contacts in emphasizing
that the problem is the teachers -- not the textbooks.
10. (C) COMMENT: Al-Leheedan remarked more than once that
there is now a consensus for reform within the SAG that
includes the King, Crown Prince and Senior Ulemah. His
implication was that such a concensus had not always existed.
We would agree. Only since 2003 has the SAG recognized
religious intolerance as practiced by Takfiri zealots to be a
direct threat to the regime. This led the twin pillars of
Saudi stability, the princes and the religious scholars, to
close ranks in an unprecedented and ongoing effort to remove
the seeds of terrorism from Saudi mosques. How such efforts
are proceeding overseas remains less clear. END COMMENT.
GFOELLER