SAUDI CLERIC CROSSES THE LINE ON GAZA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000017

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ARP FOR JHARRIS AND MBLONG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2019
TAGS: IS PGOV PTER SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI CLERIC CROSSES THE LINE ON GAZA

REF: RIYADH 1871

RIYADH 00000017 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: DCM David Rundell for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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(C) KEY POINTS
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-- Saudi authorities arrested Sheikh Awad al-Qarni after he
issued an internet "fatwa" urging followers to retaliate
against Israel and Israeli interests. Authorities reportedly
moved al-Qarni to Riyadh following the arrest in his home
city of Abha, southwest Saudi Arabia.

-- The website al-Rasid (www.alrasid.com) broke the story
December 31. Conflicting internet reports suggested that
al-Qarni remained free, but Embassy contacts have confirmed
the arrest. The Saudi government has not commented
officially.

-- A group of Mecca scholars that included university
professors and magistrates called for support of Hamas,
terming resistance against Israel as "Sharia-justified jihad."

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(C) COMMENT
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-- International media widely reported al-Qarni's comments.
While some reports have described al-Qarni as a "prominent
cleric," in fact he appeals to a narrower slice of society
with conservative-to-extremist leanings. On Gaza, many
Saudis would probably agree with his comments even if most
would not act on them. In contrast, a larger portion of
society will likely follow the statements of the Mecca
scholars more seriously.

-- The Saudi government's reaction to al-Qarni's comments is
a clear message that the SAG will not tolerate those who
incite violence, even in the context of the Palestinian
cause. Al-Qarni's detention will likely be short, but will
serve to remind he and his peers that their rhetoric is being
monitored.

End Key Points and Comment.


1. (U) In a message published on multiple websites, al-Qarni
called December 28 for violent retailiation on Israeli
interests: "All (Israeli) interests, and anything else
related to Israel, are permitted targets for Muslims
everywhere.... They (Israelis) should become targets. Their
blood should be shed as the blood of our brothers in
Palestine has been shed.... They should feel pain more than
our brothers." Though Al-Qarni characterized his call as a
"fatwa," or religious ruling, the statement has no official
standing in Saudi Arabia, where only the Council of Senior
Ulama or the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia are permitted to
issue official religious rulings (Reftel).


2. (C) The Saudi Ministry of Interior (MOI) reportedly
arrested al-Qarni in his home city of Abha. Reports
conflict, but the arrest likely occurred late December 29,
one day after al-Qarni's call went public. The SAG has not
commented publicly on the arrest. However, an MOI official
told the Charge d'Affaires January 3 that al-Qarni had
"probably been released by now."


3. (C) On December 31 a group of prominent Mecca scholars,
including several magistrates and professors at Umm al-Qura
religious university, issued a statement urging Muslims and
Arab governments to support Hamas. The statement declared
that "what is being done by the valiant Islamic resistance,
represented by the elected Palestinian government and by the
Islamic resistance movement HAMAS, and by the various Islamic
resistance movements in the occupied land of Palestine, is
Sharia-permitted Jihad..."


4. (C) Al-Qarni formerly worked as a professor at Imam
Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University and has a history of
taking anti-U.S. positions. In 2004, he signed a petition
supporting "holy war" against the United States in Iraq.
Al-Qarni is well-known in the Kingdom, yet the Mecca

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scholars' comments will likely be given more weight by most
observers.
FRAKER