SAUDI BLOGGER CURBS HIS ACTIVISM BUT NOT HIS

S E C R E T JEDDAH 000119 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2019 TAGS: EINT PGOV PHUM PINR PINS PREL PTER SA SUBJECT: SAUDI BLOGGER CURBS HIS ACTIVISM BUT NOT HIS ACTIVITY REF: 08 JEDDAH 0521 Classified By: CG Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: Fouad Al-Farhan, previously jailed activist and blogger, claims a travel ban that prevented his attending a December bloggers' conference in Beirut continues in effect. Al-Farhan says that continued harassment and threats by the SAG since his release nearly a year ago have deterred him from completing a planned news commentary and analysis website. Instead, the blogger has decided to shift his efforts toward creating a social networking website for Saudi primary and secondary school educators. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (S/NF) TRAVEL-BAN: Al-Farhan attempted to attend a bloggers' conference in Beirut in December 2008, but Saudi authorities prevented him from leaving the country (reftel). As far as he knows, the travel ban remains in place. At a March 15 meeting, Al-Farhan expressed concern that he might be prevented from traveling outside the country indefinitely, but was relieved that human rights activist and lawyer, Mohamed Saeed Tayeb, had just that week had his travel ban lifted four years after signing a letter demanding reforms from the King. ¶3. (S/NF) SAUDI-STYLE HUFFINGTON POST ON HOLD: Al-Farhan had been planning to create a "Huffington Post" style website for Saudi writers and commentators. However, since his release from detention in April 2008, Al-Farhan claims to have been continually harassed by the Saudi Mubahith, including by one operative who is a relative. Due to concern both for himself and his family, Al-Farhan has decided not to go ahead with the project -- despite the fact that the intended site was not designed to be overtly critical and would have been limited to a small group of writers. ¶4. (SBU) SAUDI EDUCATION 2.1 COMING SOON: Al-Farhan told PolOff that he is working with a friend (an employee of Saudi Telecom) to create a new social networking device for Saudi primary and secondary schools. The website is designed for teachers using the Saudi curriculum. Al-Farhan expects that once the website is released, the majority of users will be public school educators. The idea behind the product (called Saudi Education 2.1) is to offer educators the ability to compare ideas regarding curriculum and teaching styles, to share lesson plans and best practices, and to provide general advice. While Al-Farhan and his partner have not received direct support from the Ministry of Education, they do not believe that the Ministry will object to the platform. ¶5. (C) ARAMCO INTEREST: Al-Farhan claims to have personally financed the entire "Saudi Education 2.1" project at a cost of 250,000 Saudi Riyals (approx. 67,000 USD) and says he has been assured by Saudi Aramco's Corporate Responsibility branch that the company will buy the product once it gets off the ground. ¶6. (S/NF) COMMENT: While committed to using his technological prowess and notoriety to create web-based products aimed toward social and political transformation, Al-Farhan seems to have bowed -- at least temporarily -- to pressure from the SAG and is staying away from traditional blogging and political activism. SAUDI ARAMCO sponsorship of "Saudi Education 2.1" could go a long way toward legitimizing his activity and may afford him a broader platform to pursue social change through technology. Al-Farhan comes across as sincere in his interest to improve Saudi society but seems "more flexible" now in using practices acceptable to the Saudi government. Although Al-Farhan can still be expected to push the envelope, his activism has been quelled to an extent by the obvious desire not to find himself back in jail. END COMMENT. QUINN