Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JEDDAH113
2009-03-25 07:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
SHURA COUNCIL MAY BE ON THE VERGE OF LEGALIZING
how-toVZCZCXRO9054 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHJI #0113 0840723 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 250723Z MAR 09 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1258 INFO RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 8308 RUEHDH/AMCONSUL DHAHRAN 0018
C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000113
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, ECA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2014
TAGS: KDEM KPAO PGOV SA SCUL
SUBJECT: SHURA COUNCIL MAY BE ON THE VERGE OF LEGALIZING
MOVIE THEATERS FOR FILM-HUNGRY SAUDIS
Classified By: CG Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000113
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, ECA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2014
TAGS: KDEM KPAO PGOV SA SCUL
SUBJECT: SHURA COUNCIL MAY BE ON THE VERGE OF LEGALIZING
MOVIE THEATERS FOR FILM-HUNGRY SAUDIS
Classified By: CG Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY. According to Saudi film-maker and
documentarian Dania Naseef, niece of a newly appointed Shura
Council member, the Council is actively discussing the
legalization of movie theaters in the Kingdom. Numerous
trusted sources have confirmed that major malls in Jeddah
have left empty spaces designed for movie theaters in
anticipation of a change in the situation. Well-attended and
unsegregated film festivals in Jeddah have created a buzz
about the potential for theaters in this "liberal-minded"
city. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) MOVIE THEATERS? LET EACH CITY DECIDE FOR ITSELF: In
March 17 meeting film-maker Dania Naseef (PLEASE PROTECT)
recounted to PolOff what her uncle told her, adding that it
was not public information. Dania's uncle, Mohammad Naseef,
is a recently appointed Shura council member (brought in
during the recent government shake-up),described as "very
liberal." According to the Naseefs, the Shura Council is
actively debating the possibility of legalizing movie
theaters in Saudi Arabia. Under the discussed scheme, each
community in the Kingdom would decide for itself whether to
allow movie theaters. Dania explained that this method would
allow conservative areas of the country to maintain their
strong feelings against cinema, while allowing relatively
more liberal cities like Jeddah to develop a film industry.
Regardless of how the movie issue is solved, most Jeddawis
see it only as matter of time before movies come back to
Jeddah. Dania noted that all over Saudi Arabia people
already have access to movies (and even pornography) via
satellite. At least with movie theaters, she asserts, there
would be the ability to control and monitor content for
public consumption.
3. (C) MALLS HAVE ALREADY PREPARED THEATERS: Numerous trusted
sources have confirmed to post that the Red Sea Mall (one of
Jeddah's largest) already has the space built for a multiplex
mall cinema. The mall decided to keep this space so that if
theaters are legalized they would quickly be able to
capitalize on the potential business. According to Dania,
several other malls, including the largest and newest Mall of
Arabia have also left spaces available for movie theaters.
4. (SBU) JEDDAWIS ARE THIRSTY FOR FILM AND HUNGRY FOR
POPCORN: There is a growing call for an expansion of
film-watching opportunities in Jeddah as evidenced by the
success of last fall's Jeddah Film Festival, the emergence of
Saudi film-makers like Dania Naseef, and the ravenous black
market consumption of DVD films all around the city. March
has featured a highly successful Asian Film festival
sponsored by Consulates of 12 Asian countries in Jeddah. The
festival, which featured films from a different country each
night as well as a night for Saudi Arabia, packed in several
hundred people most evenings for mixed-gender viewings of
wide screen uncut productions. European Consulates in Jeddah
are planning their own festival in April. The US Consulate
General recently held successful screenings (for target
audiences) of "Dream Girls" and a travel channel special
featuring a Saudi film-maker.
5. (C) COMMENT: A decision by the Shura Council to leave
theater laws up to each community would be an interesting way
of meshing the competing interests of the more conservative
Wahhabist heartland with the clearly more liberal-leaning
Hijaz. Allowing for different policies to govern different
areas of the country will set a unique precedent for
law-making and is likely to be met by considerable debate. A
similar scheme could be one of way of addressing the growing
debate on other social issues like affording women the right
to drive. Given the widespread access to the internet,
satellite, and other largely uncontrolled media, the advent
of movie theaters does not appear to be a social revolution
and yet it will be a sign to citizens and the world that the
tight grip of the religious establishment has weakened under
the patronage of a reformist King. END COMMENT.
QUINN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, ECA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2014
TAGS: KDEM KPAO PGOV SA SCUL
SUBJECT: SHURA COUNCIL MAY BE ON THE VERGE OF LEGALIZING
MOVIE THEATERS FOR FILM-HUNGRY SAUDIS
Classified By: CG Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY. According to Saudi film-maker and
documentarian Dania Naseef, niece of a newly appointed Shura
Council member, the Council is actively discussing the
legalization of movie theaters in the Kingdom. Numerous
trusted sources have confirmed that major malls in Jeddah
have left empty spaces designed for movie theaters in
anticipation of a change in the situation. Well-attended and
unsegregated film festivals in Jeddah have created a buzz
about the potential for theaters in this "liberal-minded"
city. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) MOVIE THEATERS? LET EACH CITY DECIDE FOR ITSELF: In
March 17 meeting film-maker Dania Naseef (PLEASE PROTECT)
recounted to PolOff what her uncle told her, adding that it
was not public information. Dania's uncle, Mohammad Naseef,
is a recently appointed Shura council member (brought in
during the recent government shake-up),described as "very
liberal." According to the Naseefs, the Shura Council is
actively debating the possibility of legalizing movie
theaters in Saudi Arabia. Under the discussed scheme, each
community in the Kingdom would decide for itself whether to
allow movie theaters. Dania explained that this method would
allow conservative areas of the country to maintain their
strong feelings against cinema, while allowing relatively
more liberal cities like Jeddah to develop a film industry.
Regardless of how the movie issue is solved, most Jeddawis
see it only as matter of time before movies come back to
Jeddah. Dania noted that all over Saudi Arabia people
already have access to movies (and even pornography) via
satellite. At least with movie theaters, she asserts, there
would be the ability to control and monitor content for
public consumption.
3. (C) MALLS HAVE ALREADY PREPARED THEATERS: Numerous trusted
sources have confirmed to post that the Red Sea Mall (one of
Jeddah's largest) already has the space built for a multiplex
mall cinema. The mall decided to keep this space so that if
theaters are legalized they would quickly be able to
capitalize on the potential business. According to Dania,
several other malls, including the largest and newest Mall of
Arabia have also left spaces available for movie theaters.
4. (SBU) JEDDAWIS ARE THIRSTY FOR FILM AND HUNGRY FOR
POPCORN: There is a growing call for an expansion of
film-watching opportunities in Jeddah as evidenced by the
success of last fall's Jeddah Film Festival, the emergence of
Saudi film-makers like Dania Naseef, and the ravenous black
market consumption of DVD films all around the city. March
has featured a highly successful Asian Film festival
sponsored by Consulates of 12 Asian countries in Jeddah. The
festival, which featured films from a different country each
night as well as a night for Saudi Arabia, packed in several
hundred people most evenings for mixed-gender viewings of
wide screen uncut productions. European Consulates in Jeddah
are planning their own festival in April. The US Consulate
General recently held successful screenings (for target
audiences) of "Dream Girls" and a travel channel special
featuring a Saudi film-maker.
5. (C) COMMENT: A decision by the Shura Council to leave
theater laws up to each community would be an interesting way
of meshing the competing interests of the more conservative
Wahhabist heartland with the clearly more liberal-leaning
Hijaz. Allowing for different policies to govern different
areas of the country will set a unique precedent for
law-making and is likely to be met by considerable debate. A
similar scheme could be one of way of addressing the growing
debate on other social issues like affording women the right
to drive. Given the widespread access to the internet,
satellite, and other largely uncontrolled media, the advent
of movie theaters does not appear to be a social revolution
and yet it will be a sign to citizens and the world that the
tight grip of the religious establishment has weakened under
the patronage of a reformist King. END COMMENT.
QUINN