Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
91RIYADH1809
1991-02-22 11:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:  

OVERVIEW OF SAUDI ARABIA'S JIHAD CONVENTION

Tags:  KISL PROP PREL IZ SA 
pdf how-to read a cable
O 221104Z FEB 91
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7706
INFO RUEHVV/ISLAMIC CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN PRIORITY
USIA WASHDC PRIORITY 8869
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 RIYADH 01809 


USIA FOR NEA - RUGH

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: KISL PROP PREL IZ SA
SUBJECT: OVERVIEW OF SAUDI ARABIA'S JIHAD CONVENTION

REF: (A) RIYADH 1663 (NOTAL); (B) RIYADH 1724 (NOTAL);
(C) RIYADH 1789 (NOTAL)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 RIYADH 01809


USIA FOR NEA - RUGH

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: KISL PROP PREL IZ SA
SUBJECT: OVERVIEW OF SAUDI ARABIA'S JIHAD CONVENTION

REF: (A) RIYADH 1663 (NOTAL); (B) RIYADH 1724 (NOTAL);
(C) RIYADH 1789 (NOTAL)


1. (CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.)


2. SUMMARY: THE UNPRECEDENTED CONVENTION ON THE CONCEPT
OF JIHAD AND ITS RELATION TO THE GULF CRISIS ENDED IN
RIYADH FEBRUARY 20 AFTER THREE DAYS OF DISCUSSION BY
PERHAPS THE MOST DIVERSE GATHERING EVER OF SAUDI
RELIGIOUS, GOVERNMENT, AND MEDIA PERSONALITIES. THE
HOLDING OF THE CONVENTION WAS ITSELF A MAJOR STEP FORWARD
IN THE KINGDOM'S EFFORTS TO DEFINE THE TERMS OF DEBATE
ABOUT THE GULF WAR IN BOTH SAUDI ARABIA AND OTHER
COUNTRIES WITH MUSLIM POPULATIONS. WITH A DAILY AUDIENCE
OF MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE, INCLUDING SOME 200 FOREIGN
GUESTS WHOSE EXPENSES WERE COVERED BY SAUDI AUTHORITIES,
AND WITH IN-DEPTH COVERAGE FROM ALL SAUDI MEDIA, THE SAG
CLEARLY PUT FORTH ITS BEST POSSIBLE EFFORTS IN HELPING TO
HOST AND ADMINISTER THE CONVENTION.


3. THE CONVENTION'S MAJOR TOPICS OF DISCUSSION WERE
GENERALLY THE SAME ONES PROMOTED BY THE SAG SINCE LAST
AUGUST: FINDING RELIGIOUS GROUNDS FOR ACTIONS AGAINST
SADDAM, INCLUDING THE PRESENCE OF FOREIGN FORCES IN THE
KINGDOM; EXPLAINING POPULAR PERCEPTIONS OF THE CRISIS IN
THE ARAB AND MUSLIM WORLD; AND DESCRIBING THE ROLES
PLAYED BY LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA IN COVERAGE OF
THE CRISIS. ATTENDEES LEFT THE CONVENTION WITH THEIR OWN
BELIEFS STRENGTHENED AND, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF
FOREIGN GUESTS, AN INCREASED ABILITY TO SUPPORT SAG
POSITIONS ON THE GULF WAR AND COUNTER IRAQI PROPAGANDA
EFFORTS. END SUMMARY.


4. THIS IS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL REPORTS ON THE JIHAD
CONVENTION AND PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF DISCUSSION DURING
THE THREE DAYS. OTHER REPORTS WILL FOCUS ON SPECIFIC
ASPECTS OF THE CONVENTION AND REACTION BY PARTICIPANTS AS
WELL AS OTHER SAUDIS.


SAUDI PARTICIPANTS: THE GANG'S ALL HERE
--------------


5. AS REPORTED REF A, A LEADING SAUDI ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
SERVED AS HOST FOR A THREE-DAY CONVENTION (MUHRAJAN) TO
DISCUSS THE CONCEPT OF JIHAD AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE
GULF WAR. PRE-CONVENTION ANNOUNCEMENTS, HOWEVER, DID NOT
MAKE CLEAR THE UNUSUALLY LARGE NUMBER AND SCOPE OF SAUDI
LUMINARIES WHO WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE SIX OFFICIAL
SESSIONS. THE CONFERENCE WAS OPENED BY DEFENSE MINISTER

SULTAN, WHO READ A SPEECH BY KING FAHD (REF A) AND HELD
AN IMPROMPTU PRESS CONFERENCE AFTERWARDS. OTHER
IMPORTANT SAUDIS AND FOREIGNERS ON STAGE FOR THE OPENING
SESSION INCLUDED EDUCATION MINISTER ABDULLAH
AL-KHUWAYTIR, OIC SECRETARY-GENERAL HAMID AL-GABID,
EGYPTIAN GRAND MUFTI MOHAMMED SYED TANTAWI, AL-AZHAR
VICE-PRESIDENT AHMED OMAR HASHEM, AND THE HOST OF THE
CONFERENCE, DR. ABDALLAH BIN ABDULRAHMAN AL-TURKI, THE
RECTOR OF IMAM MOHAMED BIN SAUD UNIVERSITY.


RELIGIOUS AND ROYAL ATTENDANCE: EVEN BIN BAZ COMES OUT
-------------- --------------


6. PERHAPS THE GREATEST SURPRISE OF THE CONVENTION WAS
THE REGULAR ATTENDANCE OF SENIOR SAUDI RELIGIOUS SCHOLAR
SHAYKH ABDULAZIZ BIN ABDULLAH BIN BAZ. SEATED ON
SULTAN'S RIGHT FOR THE OPENING SESSION AND IN THE FRONT
ROW OF THE AUDITORIUM FOR THE SYMPOSIA WHICH FOLLOWED,
THE ELDERLY AND BLIND BIN BAZ WAS QUICK TO MAKE
CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE CONVENTION. HE MADE THE
THIRD SPEECH OF THE OPENING SESSION (FOLLOWING SULTAN AND
DR. AL-TURKI) AND WAS REGULARLY INVITED TO MAKE CLOSING
COMMENTS FOR ALL OTHER SESSIONS. DURING A PRIVATE
AUDIENCE OF FOREIGN GUESTS WITH KING FAHD AND CROWN
PRINCE ABDULLAH (REF C),BIN BAZ EVEN INTERUPTED THE KING
TO EXPOUND UPON RELIGIOUS JUSTIFICATION FOR THE KINGDOM'S
GULF CRISIS POLICIES. BIN BAZ WAS JOINED AT ALL SESSIONS
OF THE CONVENTION BY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME
COUNCIL OF ULEMA, THE HIGHEST SAUDI RELIGIOUS BODY, AS
WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER SAUDI RELIGIOUS FIGURES. TO NO
ONE'S SURPRISE, MOST OF THE RELIGIOUS COMMENTARY REPEATED
THE SAME CALLS OF SUPPORT FOR GOD AND KINGDOM HEARD IN
THE EARLY DAYS OF THE CRISIS, ALTHOUGH A FEW AWKWARD
MOMENTS PROVED THAT THE MOST SENIOR OFFICIALS WERE STILL
UNFAMILIAR WITH THE INTRICACIES OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION
BEFORE A LARGE GROUP (REPORTED SEPTEL).



7. ROYAL ATTENDEES WHO SPOKE AT VARIOUS SESSIONS
INCLUDED SEVERAL REGULAR EMBASSY CONTACTS, SUCH AS MFA
OFFICIAL (AND KING FAHD'S SON-IN-LAW) DR. PRINCE TURKI
BIN MOHAMMED SAUD AL-KABIR, DEPUTY INTERIOR MINISTER (AND
POET) IBRAHIM AL-AWAJI, AND PETROLEUM MINISTRY ADVISOR
PRINCE ABDULAZIZ BIN SALMAN. AMONG THE MANY OTHER
PROMINENT SAUDI SPEAKERS WERE OFFICIALS FROM THE MINISTRY
OF INFORMATION, MILITARY AND CIVIL DEFENSE OFFICERS,
POETS AND OTHER LITERATI, AND PRINT MEDIA EDITORS. IN
ADDITION, NUMEROUS VIP SEATS WERE OCCUPIED THROUGHOUT THE
CONFERENCE BY MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY AND VARIOUS
RELIGIOUS FIGURES, AND MINISTER OF INTERIOR PRICE NAYIF
BIN ABD AL-AZIZ HOSTED A LUNCHEON FOR SELECTED
PARTICIPANTS ON THE FINAL DAY.


FOREIGN GUESTS: LITTLE SPEAKING TIME, ALL EXPENSES PAID
-------------- --------------


8. FOREIGNERS ATTENDING THE CONVENTION WERE GENERALLY
RESTRICTED TO SHORT COMMENTARIES ABOUT PRESENTATIONS BY
SAUDIS ON THE SIX PANELS. OF THE FEW FOREIGNERS GRANTED
COMPARABLE SPEAKING TIME, THE BEST RECEIVED WERE THE
WELL-KNOWN KUWAITI RELIGIOUS LEADER SHAYKH AHMED AL-QITAN
(ONE OF THE FEW NON-SAUDIS SEATED ON STAGE AFTER THE
OPENING SESSION) AND TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AFGHAN
MUJAHIDEEN. IN CONTRAST TO THE SOMEWHAT BLAND
PRESENTATIONS MADE BY MOST SAUDI SPEAKERS, THE KUWAITI
AND AFGHANIS HELD THE AUDIENCE'S ATTENTION AND RECIEVED
THE STRONGEST RESPONSES BY NOTING, RESPECTIVELY, THE
ATROCITIES OF THE IRAQI MILITARY IN KUWAIT AND THE
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN KUWAIT AND AFGHANISTAN.


9. NONETHELESS, THE NUMEROUS FOREIGN ATTENDEES SEEMED
SATISFIED WITH THE CONFERENCE. OUR EARLY ESTIMATES ARE
THAT 15-20 OF THE 31 COUNTRIES INVITED SENT
REPRESENTATIVES, APPARENTLY WITH ALL EXPENSES PAID BY THE
SAG. A WESTERN HEMISPHERE GROUP INCLUDED A TRINIDAD
GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL AS WELL AS SEVERAL REPRESENTATIVES OF
THE MUSLIM AMERICAN COMMUNITY (MAC). OTHER COUNTRIES
REPRESENTED INCLUDED MALAYSIA, NIGERIA, PAKISTAN, SUDAN,
SYRIA, AND SPAIN.


MEDIA: GOOD COVERAGE, BUT WANDERING DISCUSSIONS
-------------- --


10. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WERE VISIBLE DURING ALL
PROCEEDINGS, WITH SAUDI TELEVISION PROVIDING LIVE
COVERAGE OF SEVERAL SESSIONS AS WELL AS NUMEROUS
INTERVIEWS WITH CONVENTION ATTENDEES. LOCAL PRESS
COVERAGE WAS SIMILARLY COMPLETE, WITH LONG QUOTES FROM A
NUMBER OF PANELISTS APPEARING IN SEVERAL ARABIC DAILIES.
FOREIGN JOURNALISTS WERE NOT VISIBLE DURING MOST OF THE
CONFERENCE, ALTHOUGH THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PRINTED
MATERIAL AND TRANSLATION SERVICES MADE AVAILABLE WILL
PROBABLY HELP TO DISSEMINATE CONFERENCE RESULTS.


11. DISCUSSION OF GULF CRISIS MEDIA COVERAGE WAS
SOMEWHAT LESS THAN EXCELLENT, HOWEVER, AS PANELISTS OFTEN
CONTRADICTED THEMSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER ABOUT THE BEST
WAY TO RESPOND TO IRAQI PROPAGANDA. SPECULATIONS BY A
NUMBER OF PANELISTS ABOUT THE SOURCES OF SADDAM'S SUPPORT
IN OTHER COUNTRIES WERE INCONCLUSIVE, AS WERE DISCUSSIONS
REGARDING THE OVERALL ROLE OF ARAB AND WESTERN MEDIA IN
THE CRISIS (REPORTED SEPTEL).


COMMENT
--------------


12. THE HOLDING OF THE CONVENTION MAY ITSELF PROVE TO BE
ITS MOST SIGNIFICANT RESULT OVER THE LONG TERM. WHILE
FURTHER EVALUATION OF THE CONVENTION'S IMPORT WILL TAKE
SOME TIME TO EMERGE, ATTENDANCE BY SUCH A WIDE RANGE OF
SAUDI LUMINARIES COULD HAVE POSITIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR
FUTURE PUBLIC DEBATE OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES,
PERHAPS EVEN BEYOND THE END OF SADDAM'S WAR. MOREOVER,
DECISIONS TO HOLD THE CONVENTION IN RIYADH AND CONVENE A
NUMBER OF PANELS ON NON-RELIGIOUS THEMES MADE FOR FAR
MORE INTERESTING DISCUSSION THAN WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE
IN THE MORE TYPICAL CONFERENCE VENUES OF MECCA OR MEDINA.

FREEMAN