Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JEDDAH416
2009-10-30 08:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:  

OIC DG ON "DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS" RESOLUTION:

Tags:  PREL BG PHUM SA UNGA UN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHJI #0416 3030836
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 300836Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1581
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0193
RUCNDTA/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0113
RUEHIC/OIC COLLECTIVE
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0078
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 8565
RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH
C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000416 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, IO/HR (NEVILLE, OSTERMEIER);
DRL/MLGA(SIBILLA); S/SRMC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2019
TAGS: PREL BG PHUM SA UNGA UN
SUBJECT: OIC DG ON "DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS" RESOLUTION:
SEES LITTLE PROSPECT OF POSTPONEMENT BUT THINKS THERE IS
ROOM FOR COMPROMISE

REF: A. JEDDAH 0415

B. STATE 111466

C. STATE 109397

Classified By: Consul General Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000416

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, IO/HR (NEVILLE, OSTERMEIER);
DRL/MLGA(SIBILLA); S/SRMC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2019
TAGS: PREL BG PHUM SA UNGA UN
SUBJECT: OIC DG ON "DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS" RESOLUTION:
SEES LITTLE PROSPECT OF POSTPONEMENT BUT THINKS THERE IS
ROOM FOR COMPROMISE

REF: A. JEDDAH 0415

B. STATE 111466

C. STATE 109397

Classified By: Consul General Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d)


1. (C) In meeting over lunch today (October 29),Organization
of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Director General for Cultural
and Social Affairs Ambassador Hemayet Uddin (protect)
expressed the opinion that the OIC states would not/not agree
to postponement since passage currently looks highly
promising from their point of view. Well understanding the
American and EU perspectives as well as the core principle of
free speech involved, through his long residence in the U.S.
himself (daughter is Amcit),he clearly stated there remained
room for compromise. He noted that Pakistan is a driving
force behind the resolution, both in Geneva and in New York
(ref A).


2. (C) An urbane career diplomat, former Bangladesh Foreign
Secretary, Ambassador to India, and ca. 1991-97 DCM
Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, Hemayet Uddin will complete
a 3-year post-retirement stint at the OIC in January 2010.
Although he appears not to be personally close to OIC
Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, he was asked to
accompany the SYG to Dhaka on November 2. Familiar with
American practice of religious tolerance, Hemayet remarked
that "as paradoxical as it sounds only in the U.S. can one
learn to become a good Muslim." He noted that his Muslim
in-laws in Frederick, Maryland, perform Friday prayers at a
local church, observing that such a situation is unimaginable
anywhere else in the world.


3. (U) Today's Arab News (Jeddah/October 29) carried the
OIC's defense of the resolution, noting that SYG Ihsanoglu
said (BEGIN TEXT) the OIC position on defamation of religions
was based on existing international covenants which have
outlined limits to freedom of opinion and expression in cases
of incitement to hatred on religious grounds. He added that
for the last 10 years OIC-sponsored resolutions on the
defamation of religion have been passed by the General
Assembly in New York and the Human Rights Council in Geneva.


4. (U) (CONT.) The text of these resolutions has evolved over
the years and, in its current form, is not restricted to
Islam but denounces the defamation of all religions, he said.
"It is important to note that passsage of these resolutions
by a majority vote beyond the membership of the OIC lends
international legitimacy to the OIC position on this issue,"
Ihsanoglu said. "It is, however, clear that there is a
divergence of opinion on this issue as indicated by Michael
Posner's statement. On our part, we are looking at the
positive side encouraged by the recognition on both sides of
the need to address the issue of discrimination and
incitement to hatred on religious grounds," he added.


5. (U) (CONT.) "I believe that the assistant secretary of
state was referring to the recent consensual passage of the
US and Egypt-sponsored resolution on the freedom of opinion
and expression by consensus at the Human Rights Council in
Geneva," said Ihsanoglu. (END TEXT)


6. (SBU) Post will continue to monitor and report. CG and
Poloff will accompany Special Representative to Muslim
Communities Farah Pandith in a call on SYG Ihsanoglu, Sunday
morning, November 1.
QUINN