VZCZCXRO9819
RR RUEHAT
DE RUEHTC #0357/01 0471534
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161534Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4850
INFO RUEHAT/AMCONSUL AMSTERDAM 0386

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000357 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PTER KISL PGOV PINR SOCI SCUL KPAO NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/ISLAM:  MORE ON CARTOON CONTROVERSY 
 
REF: A) THE HAGUE 314; B) THE HAGUE 303; C) THE HAGUE 257 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Danish cartoon controversy continues 
to resonate in the Netherlands.  Two small, generally 
peaceful demonstrations were held February 10 in Maastricht 
and February 11 in Amsterdam.  Two well-known Muslim 
Amsterdam officials have attempted to downplay the issue in 
an effort to reduce tensions.  Some mosques are advocating 
using the Dutch courts to address perceived grievances in 
lieu of violent protests. At least one mosque has filed 
suit over the cartoons and another over a news program they 
deemed offensive.  FM Bot, traveling in Saudi Arabia, has 
reasserted the absolute right to free expression, "only 
limited by the law."  Local governments in some areas have 
banned costumes depicting Mohammed to avoid inflaming 
Muslim community sensitivities during upcoming carnival. 
End Summary. 
 
PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS... 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Dutch-Muslims took to the streets in limited 
numbers February 11 in Maastricht and Amsterdam to express 
their anger at the Danish cartoons.  In Maastricht, the 
crowd numbered roughly 100-150.  In Amsterdam it was 
between 200-300 (ref b).  Many observers attributed the low 
turnout to appeals by imams during Friday sermons for 
Muslims to stay home.  Muslim community organizations such 
as Amsterdam's "Neighborhood Fathers" also publicly 
intervened to keep the demonstrations peaceful. 
 
¶3. (SBU) CG and POLOFF observed the demonstration in 
Amsterdam's Dam Square, which was monitored closely by 
about 60 reporters and as many policemen.  It was to be a 
silent protest, with no references to Denmark, but about 50 
people chanted angry texts, and tore a Danish flag.  At one 
point about 60 men, some with their young sons, stopped 
protesting ten minutes to pray, attracting media and 
spectator attention. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The demonstration was multilingual - the first two 
verses of the Koran were chanted in Arabic, but signs in 
the crowd were in Dutch, Arabic and English.  One sign 
said, in Dutch, "Provocation is pointless.  Respect is the 
way."  Another asked in Dutch, "Are freedom of speech and 
respect for faith incompatible?"  One large banner simply 
advertised two web sites: www.islamtomorrow.nl and www.al- 
islam.com.  The most provocative sign seen by CG and Poloff 
was in English, carried by three teenaged Muslim girls, 
read "There is a hot place in hell for those who insult the 
Prophet Mohammed. Especially Hirsi Ali." 
 
¶5. (SBU) Participants included many women and teenage 
girls, a few covered from head to toe, either accompanying 
their husbands or in small separate groups.  Also in 
attendance were many Muslim families, including young 
children and babies, and native-Dutch who stopped to 
observe the demonstration.  One little girl sat on her 
father's shoulders with a sign, "I (heart) Mohammed." 
 
. . . BUT SOME VIOLENCE AFTERWARDS 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Most of the Amsterdam demonstrators dispersed 
peacefully after three hours.  One group of 40 to 70 
youngsters, however, moved from the demonstration site to a 
busy shopping street where they smashed shop windows, 
knocked down store displays, and got into altercations with 
reporters attempting to film them.  The young people 
reportedly chanted "Hamas," "Jihad," and "Hezbollah." 
 
¶7. (SBU) According to press reports, the police arrested 
four individuals.  An Embassy contact with the Amsterdam 
police acknowledged that they learned from the incident and 
will be better prepared next time.  In statements to the 
press following the incidents, Mayor Job Cohen praised the 
Neighborhood Fathers and other groups for their efforts to 
maintain calm, and said it was pity that troublemakers had 
cast a slur on an otherwise good and peaceful 
demonstration.  Some Muslim community figures also spoke 
out, with at least one Imam publicly calling on the 
perpetrators to have "more respect for the Prophet." 
 
AMSTERDAM OFFICIALS GET THE JOKE 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Several days later, during a televised election 
debate, Amsterdam Alderman and mission contact Ahmed 
Aboutaleb called the Danish cartoons "funny."  Aboutaleb, 
widely viewed as the most respected Muslim politician in 
the Netherlands, said only one cartoon, which showed the 
 
THE HAGUE 00000357  002 OF 002 
 
 
Prophet with a bomb-turban, was offensive.  The rest, he 
said, were funny.  Aboutaleb argued that freedom of opinion 
and expression is not negotiable, "but I do feel that 
people should try to use it responsibly".  Another Muslim 
Amsterdam official and mission contact, Fatima Elatik, 
similarly downplayed the offensive nature of the cartoons 
and expressed her support for freedom of speech during a 
television broadcast last week. 
 
MOSQUES WEIGH IN 
---------------- 
 
 ¶9. (SBU) According to press reports, the boards of 
Moroccan mosques in Rotterdam appealed to their rank and 
file to stay calm.  "Those who feel hurt could express 
their feelings through dialogue, protests or by going to 
court," said spokesman Talbi.  "These cartoons should be no 
excuse to resort to violence or to vandalize property." 
The As-Soenah mosque in The Hague, meanwhile, announced on 
February 14 its intention to launch court proceedings 
against the Dutch news program NOVA for broadcasting a 
program it said was offensive and provocative. 
 
BOT SPEAKS OUT 
-------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) Foreign Minister Bot, traveling in the Middle 
East, spoke out again on the cartoon controversy on 
February 14 following a meeting with Saudi King Abdullah. 
Bot stressed, "Our freedom of expression is in a certain 
sense an absolute freedom, only limited by law.  Naturally, 
individual responsibility also plays a role."  In response, 
King Abdullah acknowledged the right to free expression, 
but added, "this does not mean you can deliberately offend 
God.  The same applies to all religions and prophets." 
 
CARNIVAL RESTRICTIONS 
--------------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) As citizens prepare for Carnival celebrations 
throughout the Netherlands, organizers have warned that 
making fun of the Mohammed cartoon controversy or Islam 
will not be tolerated.  In Maastricht, Heerlen, and Weert 
anyone dressed as Mohammed, or wearing a burqa, will not be 
allowed to walk in Carnival processions, as "regulations 
forbid offensive and insulting texts or impersonations."  A 
spokesman for Oldenzaal, location of the largest Carnival 
in the north of The Netherlands, also said images or 
slogans about the Prophet would not be tolerated.  "We wish 
to celebrate carnival with all sections of the community," 
he said,  "The recent events in Denmark played a role in 
our decision." Only Den Bosch has refused to impose a ban 
believing most people have enough sense to know what is 
acceptable.  A spokesman said 'mockery is traditionally 
chiefly directed at local rather than global events." 
 
BLAKEMAN