AMBASSADOR PRESSES MINISTER OF STATE OF INTERIOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000345

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM KIRF CASC QA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES MINISTER OF STATE OF INTERIOR
FOR LENIENCY IN CASE OF 31 AMERICAN CITIZENS ORDERED
DEPORTED

REF: DOHA 333

Classified By: Ambassador Joseph E. LeBaron, for reasons 1.4 (b, d).

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(C) KEY POINTS
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-- Ambassador LeBaron pressed Minister of State for Interior
Affairs Abdullah Nasser Al Thani to proceed leniently when
acting on the deportation of 31 Americans (9 families in all)
apparently for proselytizing.

-- Al Thani, only partially briefed on the case, told the
Ambassador that he did not know all the details but would
look into these cases and schedule another meeting to report
his findings. (Now scheduled for Thursday.)

-- Al Thani did indicate that the deportation orders were
related to proselytizing at work camps in Doha's Industrial
Area, particularly in the Pakistani Muslim community.

-- Several American citizens ordered deported contacted the
Embassy to report the deportation orders have been rescinded.
However, the Embassy is seeking confirmation from the
Ministry of Interior.

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(C) COMMENTS
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-- Al Thani was keen to emphasize the Government of Qatar's
message of openness to other religions and its predilection
to tolerance and dialogue.

-- The Articles of Qatar's Penal Code are not clear about
what constitutes "proselytizing." The Articles, if
interpreted broadly, could hold penalties for those who have
knowledge of any one involved in proselytizing.

-- Americans facing deportation maintain that they have not
proselytized; they have not even visited the labor camps in
question, although they add that they know of others who have
been to the camps.

End Key Points and Comments.


1. (C) Ambassador LeBaron and Consular Section Chief Timothy
Ponce called May 25th on Minister of State for
Interior Affairs Abdullah Khalid Al Thani at his office at
the Ministry of Interior (MOI).


2. (C) Referring to his notes, Al Thani stated that some of
the U.S. citizens were ordered deported because they went to
work camps in Doha's Industrial Area. This was a particular
problem in the Pakistani work camps, for two reasons. First,
the Pakistani workers are Muslim. Second, many of the
workers are illegal aliens and over 1,000 workers live there.
The area can be dangerous for non-Pakistanis, and the police
go in force to these areas when there is a problem. If a
religious group is going to this area, they should coordinate
with MOI to review their activities and for their security.
This religious group had not.


3. (C) Al Thani stressed repeatedly to the Ambassador that
the Government of Qatar (GOQ) respects all religions,
pointing to the development of the church community in
Mesaimeer. The MOI provides security for that church
community and has provided anything the registered churches
there have requested. In fact, 58 churches operate in Qatar,
holding services in flats, villas, and at facilities at the
church community. These groups are protected by Qatari law
so long as these churches restrict their activities to their
private facilities and within the church community.


4. (C) Despite Qatar's openness, continued Al Thani, other
religions sometimes find themselves in conflict with the
local community, such as when many vehicles park in
neighborhood communities for their services and block the
roads. The MOI works with the communities and the religious
groups to mediate the differences. MOI officers meet with
the various religious groups to help and ensure that all
religions and groups maintain a good relationship within the
surrounding community.


5. (C) In response, Ambassador LeBaron urged Al Thani to
exercise leniency. The American citizens did not understand
what they had done wrong. They had not been warned about any
wrongdoing. They had yet been given a reason for their
deportations. The 31 ordered deported included children who

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almost certainly had no part in these activities.


6. (C) At the same time, Ambassador noted that American
citizens are guests in Qatar. The U.S. Embassy works, and
will continue to work, to make sure the American citizen
community in Qatar understands Qatar's laws, culture and
traditions, and respects them.


7. (C) The Ambassador also voiced his concern about the
damage that might occur to Qatar's reputation, unless
these deportation orders were more clearly justified. People
in the United States and elsewhere could have a difficult
time understanding the reasoning behind these deportation
orders. The New York Times already had called
about the deportations. It had indicated it might send
reporters to Qatar to investigate.


8. (C) Al Thani noted that he will meet with MFA Assistant
Minister of Follow-Up Affairs Mohamad Al-Rumaihi on Tuesday,
May 26, to further discuss the matter.


9. (C) Al Thani noted that the MOI has many ways to handle
the problem. Referring to Qatar's Penal Code, the relevant
portions of which -- Articles 257 through 265 -- Al Thani
provided to Ambassador, Al Thani said taking the cases to
court would be difficult for the foreign citizens involved.
Because the GOQ respects other religions, he would prefer to
offer deportation, which is a better solution to the problem
for the foreign citizens.


10. (C) Note: Articles 257 through 265 refer to punishments
for any offense that might injure Islam or preach against it.
The copy Al Thani provided had highlighted the following
English language translation of section of Article 257:
"shall be punished by imprisonment any person who
established, formed, organized, or managed a society, body
organization or branch of the same with the objective of
combating or injuring the basis or principle of Islamic
religion or what came to be known of it by necessity, or
preached for other than this religion, or preached for a
faith or view implying something of the aforementioned, or
encouraged or promoted the same."


11. (C) (Comment: Clearly, this is a substandard translation
from the Arabic, and Embassy will seek a better translation.)


12. (C) Articles 258 through 265 are of a similar nature and
include punishments including fines and prison sentences up
to five years.


13. (C) Al Thani reiterated that Christians and other
religions are free to pray, worship and do as they please in
their facilities. The Government of Qatar welcomes all
religions and nationalities. The GOQ will maintain its open
stance to other religions, including opening a new church
complex for the Mormon fellowship in Doha.

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FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS
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14. (SBU) Since reftel, Con Chief received several phone
calls from the American citizens involved. They indicated
that they had been called by the same MOI officer and
informed that the deportation orders had been revoked.
However, they mentioned that the deportation order for a
South African Pilot of Qatar Airways still stands.


15. (SBU) Con Chief also asked one of the American citizens
after the Ambassador's meeting with Al Thani if she or any of
the American citizens ordered deported were aware of or
involved in Christian outreach to the Industrial Area. She
stated that she knew of these activities, but no one in the
current group had participated or was otherwise involved.
Con Chief has organized a meeting tomorrow at the Embassy to
discuss the deportation orders further.

LeBaron