AL-FAQIH ORGANIZES DAMMAM PROTEST

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000042 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA AND DS/IP/ITA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2018 TAGS: ASEC KISL PGOV PINR PREL SOCI SA SUBJECT: AL-FAQIH ORGANIZES DAMMAM PROTEST REF: A. 07 RIYADH 2529 ¶B. 07 RIYADH 1414 Classified By: Classified By: Consul General John Kincannon for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 28, 2007, immediately following the end of Friday prayer, an estimated 150 to 200 people protested outside of the al-Forqan mosque in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, chanting the slogans "God is great" and "Death to the al-Saud." Organized via broadcasts on the al-Islah radio network of Dr. Sa'ad al-Faqih, the London-based founder of the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia, the demonstration lasted an estimated 10 to 15 minutes before being broken up by the Ministry of Interior's Special Security Force. Despite the small number of participants and brief length of the demonstration, viewed in conjunction with the Riyadh protests of December 14 (Reftel A),the al-Forqan disturbance serves as a reminder that there does exist a community of anti-Saud conservatives willing to follow al-Faqih's guidance. END SUMMARY. -------------- DEMONSTRATION DETAILS -------------- ¶2. (C) On Friday, December 28, approximately 150 to 200 people protested outside of the al-Forqan mosque, located in the middle class "Plot 91" neighborhood of southeast Dammam, approximately 9.5 miles (15km) from ConGen Dhahran. With an estimated capacity of 4,000 people, al-Forqan is the largest mosque in Dammam and is considered a moderate place of worship, not typically affiliated with radical ideology. Per a source in attendance on December 28, there were an estimated 2,000 worshippers present. At the end of prayer, numerous worshippers began raising the ghutra and igal off of their heads as a signal to show support amongst themselves for the protest soon to begin. The men then started to chant "God is great," and "Death to the Al-Saud." When the mosque imam asked that the group not mix politics and religion, the 150 to 200 men, all of whom appeared to be Saudis, made their way outside and continued to protest for an estimated 10 to 15 minutes. The protest dispersed quickly upon the arrival of two buses of Ministry of Interior Special Security Force officers, with protestors fleeing to waiting cars in attempt to avoid arrest. A post Regional Security Office source reports that at least one confirmed Mabahith officer was in attendance at the mosque. It is unclear whether the SAG had prior knowledge of the planned event. Likewise, the total number arrested is at this time unconfirmed, although post contacts note that there were six cars still left in the mosque parking lot hours after the Special Security Force had dispersed all protestors. 3 (C) Just as with the December 14 protests at King Khalid mosque in Riyadh (Reftel A),a video of the demonstration was posted on the website youtube by the user "anaislahi." The five and a half minute long video can be accessed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YVhkDsoDZo. -------------- AL-FAQIH AND HIS FOLLOWING -------------- ¶4. (C) The protest was organized by Dr. Sa'ad al-Faqih, the London-based Saudi exile who founded the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA) in 1996. Per a source in attendance at the al-Forqan mosque, the protestors received their guidance from an al-Islah radio broadcast which gave instructions regarding the specific mosque and date for demonstration. (NOTE: Al-Islah is the media arm of MIRA, consisting of television and radio stations, as well as a website. END NOTE). The group's website offers links to information regarding the Al-Forqan protests, but none are active. ¶5. (S) COMMENT: Whereas previous calls for demonstrations have gone unheeded and it seemed al-Faqih's efforts were receiving little support (Reftel B),two successive protests in December show at the very least that al-Faqih and MIRA are still active and have some following inside of the Kingdom. Some post contacts suggest that these uprisings should not be perceived as a surge in the number of people that fundamentally agree with al-Faqih, but rather that in the face of inflation and rising prices, people are willing to listen to anyone who speaks loudly and offers a scapegoat for their problems. It should be expected that al-Faqih will continue with attempts to capitalize on the atmosphere of economic unrest to encourage Saudis to support his overarching anti-SAG ideology. The SAG has long-accused the RIYADH 00000042 002 OF 002 Qatari government of funding al-Faqih's efforts, and despite recent public reports of reconciliation between the two governments, post contact Ibrahim al Mugaiteeb (protect) believes the Qataris continue to provide funding. Al Mugaiteeb claims to have been present for London cash drops between a representative of the Qatari emir and al-Faqih in the mid-1990s, though he has no current information that would support his assertion of continued Qatari funding. END COMMENT. (APPROVED: KINCANNON) FRAKER