Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MUSCAT1056
2009-10-28 13:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:
FOR RELEASE: OMAN: FAST, POSITIVE REACTION TO RELIGIOUS
how-toVZCZCXRO2391 RR RUEHDE DE RUEHMS #1056 3011324 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 281323Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0885 INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MUSCAT 001056
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP (AMACDONALD),NEA/PPD (ASOMERSET, JSULLIVAN)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF KPAO KMDR OPRC MU
SUBJECT: FOR RELEASE: OMAN: FAST, POSITIVE REACTION TO RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM REPORT
UNCLAS MUSCAT 001056
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP (AMACDONALD),NEA/PPD (ASOMERSET, JSULLIVAN)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF KPAO KMDR OPRC MU
SUBJECT: FOR RELEASE: OMAN: FAST, POSITIVE REACTION TO RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM REPORT
1. On Wednesday, October 28, Oman's state and private media carried
uncharacteristically speedy and strongly positive coverage of the
Tuesday, October 27 release of the 2009 International Religious
Freedom Report. Coverage in all dailies predictably focused on the
IRF's positive tone regarding the Sultanate, with most in both
Arabic and English front-paging their coverage under headlines such
as "American International Religious Freedom Report Praises Omani
Tolerance" (youth-oriented private Arabic daily "Al-Shabiba",
circulation 20,000) and "HM [His Majesty], Sultanate Praised"
(private English daily "Times of Oman", circulation 25,000).
2. Most coverage drew on reporting from the Washington bureau of
the state Oman News Agency (ONA),while private Arabic daily
"Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000) supplemented that article with one
from AFP. "Al-Shabiba" carried both the ONA story in full and
additional excerpts of highlights from the Oman portion of the IRF.
The ONA report, bylined by a local stringer, was also filed to the
UAE-based English daily "Khaleej Times." Additional local
coverage, and possibly some editorial content, is likely to appear
over and immediately after the upcoming local weekend.
3. COMMENT: This rapid, broad response to the IRF release is a
clear signal of local appreciation of the report's recognition of
Oman's traditions (within limits seen to be prescribed by Islam) of
religious freedom, tolerance, and encouragement of interfaith
dialogue. END COMMENT.
Schmierer
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP (AMACDONALD),NEA/PPD (ASOMERSET, JSULLIVAN)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF KPAO KMDR OPRC MU
SUBJECT: FOR RELEASE: OMAN: FAST, POSITIVE REACTION TO RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM REPORT
1. On Wednesday, October 28, Oman's state and private media carried
uncharacteristically speedy and strongly positive coverage of the
Tuesday, October 27 release of the 2009 International Religious
Freedom Report. Coverage in all dailies predictably focused on the
IRF's positive tone regarding the Sultanate, with most in both
Arabic and English front-paging their coverage under headlines such
as "American International Religious Freedom Report Praises Omani
Tolerance" (youth-oriented private Arabic daily "Al-Shabiba",
circulation 20,000) and "HM [His Majesty], Sultanate Praised"
(private English daily "Times of Oman", circulation 25,000).
2. Most coverage drew on reporting from the Washington bureau of
the state Oman News Agency (ONA),while private Arabic daily
"Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000) supplemented that article with one
from AFP. "Al-Shabiba" carried both the ONA story in full and
additional excerpts of highlights from the Oman portion of the IRF.
The ONA report, bylined by a local stringer, was also filed to the
UAE-based English daily "Khaleej Times." Additional local
coverage, and possibly some editorial content, is likely to appear
over and immediately after the upcoming local weekend.
3. COMMENT: This rapid, broad response to the IRF release is a
clear signal of local appreciation of the report's recognition of
Oman's traditions (within limits seen to be prescribed by Islam) of
religious freedom, tolerance, and encouragement of interfaith
dialogue. END COMMENT.
Schmierer