SAUDI BLOGGER SCARED INTO CURBING HIS ACTIVISM

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000349

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, DRL, NEA/PPD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2019
TAGS: EINT KJUS KPAO PGOV PHUM PINR PINS PREL PTER
SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI BLOGGER SCARED INTO CURBING HIS ACTIVISM

REF: A. 08 RIYADH 005

B. 08 JEDDAH 521

C. 09 JEDDAH 119

JEDDAH 00000349 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: CG Martin Quinn for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

1.(S) SUMMARY: Blogger Fouad Al-Farhan (strictly protect),
previously imprisoned for criticizing Saudi authorities,
contended that hard-liners in the Kingdom have grown more
aggressive because they perceive that the USG is downplaying
human rights. Al-Farhan sharply criticized the Saudi
judicial system, and maintained that a group of political
activists detained since February 2007 are not terrorists.
He claimed the SAG was continuing to monitor him, and
suspected he was still banned from traveling abroad. Despite
ambitious plans to launch a news commentary "Huffington
Post-style" website as well as a social networking website
for Saudi teachers, Al-Farhan has largely curbed his activism
to co-organizing a meeting for Saudi bloggers at a Jeddah
coffee shop. END SUMMARY.

Blogger's worry about rise of the conservatives
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2. (S) During a conversation with CG and PolOffs in August,
Saudi blogger Fouad Al-Farhan said the SAG is cracking down
on critics due to perceptions in some circles that the Obama
Administration is not pressing the issue of human rights.
Reformers are on the defensive, said Al-Farhan, citing a
progressive Saudi prince who now feels it necessary to
publicly describe himself as against both Westernization and
terrorism. Al-Farhan believes that most Saudis respect and
appreciate King Abdullah and the direction in which he is
moving the country, but he worries about the future
leadership, especially Prince Nayif.


Saudi legal system, in blogger's words, "completely horrible"
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3. (S) Al-Farhan, who spent 137 days in solitary confinement
until his release following an on-line global campaign to
"Free Fouad," called the Saudi judicial system "completely
horrible," and complained there were "no rights." Part of
the problem is a shortage of judges, he claimed, noting that
Saudi Arabia has only 800, while a smaller country like
Kuwait has more than 1,000. Observing that because of their
recent training, prison guards "don't torture you
physically," Al-Farhan asserted that prison conditions remain
difficult and innocent persons are detained without trial.
Al-Farhan stressed that former judge Suliman Ibrahim
Al-Reshoudi and the others imprisoned since February 2007 are
human rights activists, not terrorists. Al-Farhan was
arrested after calling for their release and listing his
"least favorite Saudi officials" on his blog (ref A).


Blogger's movements closely monitored while his travel ban
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may still be in effect
--------------


4. (S) Al-Farhan claimed that Saudi authorities continue to
monitor him and to interrogate his friends. According to
Al-Farhan, as he entered the Consulate for his August
meeting, a Saudi National Guardsman outside the Consulate
told him, "The Colonel (Chief of the Investigative Unit at
the Interior Ministry) sends his salaam." Al-Farhan, who was
prevented from going to Beirut to speak at the Arab Free
Press Forum in December 2008 (ref B),speculated that a ban
on his travel remained in effect. He was unsure, as he had
not attempted to leave the country since then and the Saudi
passport office no longer tells applicants if they are banned
from traveling. Al-Farhan said he has contacted a middleman
to help him, refusing to return to the passport office
himself since that would be interpreted as a sign that he did
something wrong.

Blogger's ambitious plans for spreading concept of free
speech,
-------------- --------------
but limited action
--------------

JEDDAH 00000349 002.2 OF 002




5. (S) Although he has curbed his activism following his
release from prison (ref C),Al-Farhan said he is still
"trying to take risks once in a while." He recently
co-organized a short workshop on blogging at a Jeddah cafe
for about 80 people, an activity he described as "not that
risky." Despite limited advance publicity, he believes the
Mabahith were present at the event. Al-Farhan did not
request government permission to hold the session, joking
that "don't ask, don't tell" is a useful tactic. He added
that Shariah law allows freedom of assembly and he was not
willing to request something that is already a right.
Conceding that "freedom of assembly is not really grounded
here" in the Kingdom, Al-Farhan explained that he and other
activists are trying to bypass the limits on public
gatherings by meeting in coffee shops. Asked about his other
activities, Al-Farhan reiterated his plans to create a social
networking site for Saudi teachers and a "Huffington
Post-style" website, to be launched during Ramadan (Note:
Fouad now says he is "not ready" to launch that news
commentary website. Saudi newspapers recently reported that
authorities are preparing a new law to license and regulate
internet news websites. End note.) He also reported that he
is working on a documentary about deficiencies in Jeddah
living conditions, focusing in part on a girl who drowned in
the sea off the Jeddah corniche in July 2009 allegedly
because of discharge from a sewage outlet close to shore.

Blogging as empowerment -- a builder of "self-esteem" and
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free speech
--------------


6. (S) Al-Farhan claims that through their blogging, he and
other internet activists hope to spread the concept of free
speech and respect for nations to young Saudis, who make up
more than 50 percent of the population and who are "horribly
abused by extremist speech." Al-Farhan believes that
blogging builds self-esteem and makes people feel they have a
right to criticize, although he admitted that Saudi citizens
cannot publicly call for political change. While young,
U.S.-educated Saudis (like Al-Farhan) may call for change, he
does not expect blogging in Saudi Arabia to work in the same
way as in the United States. At the same time, Saudi women
are as active as men on blogs and their blogging is perceived
as "normal," as in America.


Simple call for more freedom -- over-reaction by authorities
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7. (S) COMMENT: Clearly chastened (and intimidated) by his
4-month detention last year, Al-Farhan seemed eager to assure
post that he is not proposing a new political model, just
asking for "simple things," as he put it, such as more
freedom to organize and socialize. He said he hoped the
Saudi Mabahith had attended the Jeddah bloggers' meeting and
heard his vision. The comments he had planned to make at the
Beirut Free Press Forum last December were "not that bad," he
maintained, and the travel ban was, from his perspective, an
unnecessary over-reaction by the SAG. If Al-Farhan's claims
of continued monitoring and restrictions are true, it appears
the Saudi authorities are not yet convinced by his assertions
that he is not challenging the established order. END
COMMENT.
QUINN