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PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHMOS RUEHPW
DE RUEHJI #0101/01 0321448
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011448Z FEB 06
FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8751
INFO RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 6110
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000101 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR 
TSOU; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2016 
TAGS: KISL PTER PREL SA
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA: DENMARK BASHING 
CONTINUES 
 
 
Classified By: CONSUL GENERAL TATIANA GFOELLER FOR REASONS 
1.4 (b) AND (d). 
 
IN MECCA, CARTOONS REMAIN CENTER STAGE 
 
¶1. (U) For the second straight week, cartoons run in Danish 
and Norwegian newspapers allegedly "vilifying" the Prophet 
Muhammad took center stage at Friday sermons in Saudi Arabia. 
 On January 28, the Jeddah-based "Arab News" reported that 
"imams of mosques across the Kingdom yesterday denounced 
Danish and Norwegian newspapers that published cartoons 
tarnishing the image of the Prophet Muhammad and urged 
Islamic countries to confront such hostile campaigns."  The 
"Arab News" reported that Shaykh Osama Khayyat delivered a 
Friday, January 27 sermon at the Grand Mosque in Mecca that 
"emphasized the lofty position of the Prophet in the minds of 
Muslims."  Calling the cartoons "blasphemous," he praised the 
SAG's response to the controversy.  "This goodly government 
has warmed our hearts with its clear Islamic stance.  It 
showed its extreme displeasure, did justice to the prophet 
and warned of the dangers of continuing this grave hostile 
path," he said. 
 
IN MEDINA, CALLING UPON ISLAMIC WORLD TO CONDEMN CARTOONS OF 
MUHAMMAD 
 
¶2. (U) The "Arab News" reported that Shaykh Ali al-Hudaify 
delivered a January 27 sermon at the Prophet's Mosque in 
Medina "also centered on the cartoon issue."  The imam said 
mockery of Muhammad "would be considered a mockery of other 
prophets such as Moses, Jesus, and Abraham."  He called on 
the Muslim world to make its condemnation of the cartoons 
clear.  "We call upon governments, organizations, and 
scholars in the Islamic world to extend support for campaigns 
protesting the sacrilegious attacks on the Prophet.  They 
should also highlight the danger posed by such vilification, 
using international forums and information media," the imam 
concluded. 
 
IN EASTERN PROVINCE, IMAM ADDRESSES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION 
 
¶3. (C) At the Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Mosque in Khobar, Shaykh 
al-Qahtani delivered a January 27 sermon criticizing what he 
termed as "Western indifference" to the cartoon controversy 
and called for a boycott of countries that either "encourage" 
such "attacks" or do nothing to stop them.  Addressing the 
issue of freedom of expression and citing historical 
incidents where Christians allegedly attacked Islam and 
Muslims, al-Qahtani alleged Western double standards on the 
issue and attempted to link the issue to Israel.  "When Islam 
and Muslims are the target of an attack, any attack, the West 
will, of course, do nothing.  The West prefers to call Muslim 
bashing 'free speech.'  On the other hand, God help anyone 
who dares speak ill of, criticize or attack the Holocaust, 
World Jewry, Judaism, or even the state of Israel," he 
railed.  "Not only is it taboo to criticize them, but it is 
criminal to question anything that may be connected to 
anything Jewish, no matter how remotely," he continued, 
adding that the West had "vehemently defended" British author 
Salman Rushdie in a similar controversy. 
 
¶4. (C) The imam also faulted Arabs and Muslims for their 
response to the issue, declaring he is "quite disappointed." 
"With the exception of Saudi Arabia, which has recalled its 
ambassador to Denmark, our Muslim and Arab brothers have 
nothing to show for the anger of their people," he added. 
The imam urged Muslims to take action: "Do not confine 
yourselves to the actions of your governments.  Take the 
initiative.  A country called Denmark has attacked our most 
prized possession- our faith- and this should not go 
unpunished.  This country has also mocked the Prophet 
Muhammad, God's last prophet on Earth." He told the 
congregants to hit Denmark in the pocketbook: "Economic 
boycott is the way to punish countries that mock our faith. 
Let's hit them where it hurts most: money.  I do not believe 
people will go hungry if households across the land start 
doing away with "Nido" milk (NOTE: While many Saudis believe 
"Nido" is a Danish product, the "Arab News" reported on 
January 31 that it is not Danish and that consumers are 
boycotting products that are not Danish out of confusion. 
END NOTE).  Money is what some people worship.  And money 
shall be our weapon of choice.  Denmark's ambassador in 
Riyadh understands this.  He realizes the kind of predicament 
his country has put itself in.  That's why he's been busy 
lately trying to make amends and to repair his country's 
 
JEDDAH 00000101  002 OF 002 
 
 
image." 
 
¶5. (C) Finally, the imam sent a message to Saudi Arabia's 
terrorists.  He told them they are better off "expanding 
their tremendous energy and brainpower" at home in the 
service of Islam "to defend Islam and the Prophet Muhammad." 
He concluded that Saudi terrorists should refrain from 
targeting the country's security officers, and instead 
"promote better understanding with members of other faiths 
through persuasion and acts of kindness done in good faith." 
 
IN JEDDAH, RESPECT OF PROPHET IS STRESSED 
 
¶6. (C) Poloff attended a January 27 sermon at a Jeddah Mosque 
located on King Abdulaziz Road, one of the city's main 
thoroughfares.  According to a Saudi acquaintance at the 
mosque, Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal was also in 
attendance.  The sermon stressed the importance of respecting 
the Prophet Muhammad, and his message.  Poloff's Saudi 
acquaintance stated that the imam "didn't mention Denmark by 
name, but we all know what he is talking about."  Other 
Consulate contacts told Poloff that Friday sermons in their 
mosques also focused on the cartoon controversy. 
 
¶7. (C) NOTE: Poloff's Saudi acquaintance brought his young 
female cousin, who appeared to be 10 or 11, with him to the 
mosque, which did not have a women's section.  "She came over 
and said she wants to go with me, so I brought her," he said. 
 While Saudi contacts told Poloff that most Saudis believe it 
is permissible to bring girls to the men's sections of 
mosques until they become teenagers, this was the first 
instance in over a year that Poloff has seen a female in the 
men's section of a Saudi mosque.  The Saudi acquaintance 
stated he was happy she had come along, and no one in the 
congregation seemed to take notice.  END NOTE. 
Gfoeller