Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RIYADH1
2009-01-03 05:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUDI POLICE BREAK UP PRO-GAZA PROTEST
how-toVZCZCXRO9054 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHRH #0001 0030536 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 030536Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9727 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH IMMEDIATE 9943
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 000001
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ARP JHARRIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV KPAL SA ASEC IS
SUBJECT: SAUDI POLICE BREAK UP PRO-GAZA PROTEST
REF: RIYADH 01868
Classified By: Political Counselor Lisa Carle
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 000001
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ARP JHARRIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV KPAL SA ASEC IS
SUBJECT: SAUDI POLICE BREAK UP PRO-GAZA PROTEST
REF: RIYADH 01868
Classified By: Political Counselor Lisa Carle
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) According to international media and local internet
reports, Saudi police intervened to end a pro-Gaza
demonstration in the Eastern Province city of Qatif on
December 29. Some 200-300 protesters shouted anti-Israeli
and anti-U.S. slogans, threw shoes and rocks, and carried
signs with pictures of wounded Palestinians and Hizballah
leader Hassan Nasrallah. The security forces reportedly
disbursed the demonstrators using rubber bullets and hot
water, apparently injuring 8 people.
2. (U) A Saudi Ministry of Interior (MOI) spokesman denied
both the police action and the demonstration, stating
"protests in the kingdom are banned."
3. (C) Initial reports from Embassy and Dhahran consulate
contacts indicate that notwithstanding the MOI denial, the
press reports are largely accurate. We are following up with
contacts in Qatif and will report details as we receive them.
(Comment: as noted in reftel, we expect that more such
demonstrations will take place in the heavily-Shi'a Eastern
Province, particularly given that this year Ashura --the day
when Shi'a Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn bin
Ali-- falls on January 7. End comment.)
RUNDELL
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ARP JHARRIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV KPAL SA ASEC IS
SUBJECT: SAUDI POLICE BREAK UP PRO-GAZA PROTEST
REF: RIYADH 01868
Classified By: Political Counselor Lisa Carle
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) According to international media and local internet
reports, Saudi police intervened to end a pro-Gaza
demonstration in the Eastern Province city of Qatif on
December 29. Some 200-300 protesters shouted anti-Israeli
and anti-U.S. slogans, threw shoes and rocks, and carried
signs with pictures of wounded Palestinians and Hizballah
leader Hassan Nasrallah. The security forces reportedly
disbursed the demonstrators using rubber bullets and hot
water, apparently injuring 8 people.
2. (U) A Saudi Ministry of Interior (MOI) spokesman denied
both the police action and the demonstration, stating
"protests in the kingdom are banned."
3. (C) Initial reports from Embassy and Dhahran consulate
contacts indicate that notwithstanding the MOI denial, the
press reports are largely accurate. We are following up with
contacts in Qatif and will report details as we receive them.
(Comment: as noted in reftel, we expect that more such
demonstrations will take place in the heavily-Shi'a Eastern
Province, particularly given that this year Ashura --the day
when Shi'a Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn bin
Ali-- falls on January 7. End comment.)
RUNDELL