VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRH #7190/01 2551256
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121256Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1456
INFO RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 7708

UNCLAS RIYADH 007190 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PCUL PHUM PGOV PREL KISL SA
SUBJECT: MUST LOVE DOGS 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY.  Saudi attitudes toward animals exemplifies 
the way in which conservatism and tradition have collided 
with progressive thinking and western ideas to create a 
paradox within Saudi culture.  Muslims are guided by the 
Qura'an and teachings of the Prophet Mohammad to be kind to 
animals, including dogs, despite the pervasive belief that 
dogs should not be raised as pets and are "dirty."  In 
addition to the influence of conservative elements of Saudi 
society, their stern views toward pets, and their general 
abhorrence of foreign practices, there is also strong public 
sentiment that it is inhumane to spend money caring for 
animals when there are so many people in need throughout the 
world.  Nonetheless, there are Saudis who raise dogs as pets 
-- despite the perception that this practice is a violation 
of Saudi customs and tradition.  Some Saudis consider the 
recent focus by conservatives on the issue of pets a 
reflection of their decreasing "sphere of influence."  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) Saudis' attitudes towards pets -- specifically dogs -- 
is a good example of how institutionalized interpretations of 
the Qura'an and conservatism have collided with exposure to 
western ideas and progressive thinking to create a paradox 
within Saudi culture.  There have been numerous items in the 
press of late regarding cats, dogs, and other pets.  It was 
recently reported, for example, that the Governor of Makkah 
banned the sale of dogs and other pets in the city upon a 
request from the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and 
Prevention of Vice (Mutawa'a) because many young Saudis have 
been out walking dogs.  The Mutawa'a, it was reported, 
considers this a violation of the Kingdom's culture and 
traditions, and special squads have begun enforcing this 
decision. 
 
¶3. (U) Traditionally, Arabs have been known for their love of 
animals, including dogs, and the inception of Islam did not 
change this in principle.  The dog is appreciated for its 
loyalty, and many tribes and individuals even carry dogs' 
names.  In chapter XVIII of the Holy Qura'an, there is 
mention of a group of early Christians who fled Roman 
persecution and slept in a cave with their dog.  After 300 
years, they all arose together.  The Prophet Mohammad is 
quoted as saying that it is permissible to raise dogs -- but 
only for guarding or hunting.  This is likely the reason that 
Muslim society discourages the practice of raising dogs as 
pets.  Additionally, there is a widespread Muslim belief that 
the dog's mouth and saliva, as well as its waste, are 
unclean.  It is not uncommon, however, for other animals to 
be raised as pets in Muslim society.  For example, a close 
disciple of the Prophet Mohammad, Abu Horayrah, had a 
nickname that was derived from the kitten he took with him 
wherever he went.  The Prophet himself commented positively 
on Horayrah's habit. 
 
¶4. (U)  Kindness to animals is an important aspect of the 
Islamic creed.  One of the examples Mohammad gave to Muslims 
was that of a disobedient Jewish woman who was forgiven and 
accepted into "God's Kingdom" because she watered a dying, 
thirsty dog.  He also provided the example of a "normal" 
woman who was thrown into Hell because she locked up a cat 
until it died of hunger and thirst.  After Prophet Mohammad, 
the Muhtassebs, predecessors of the Mutawa'a, monitored the 
treatment of animals as part of their job, and the second 
successor of Mohammad, Omar, punished a camel driver for 
overtaxing his camel. 
 
¶5. (U) Despite this emphasis on kindness, there remains in 
Saudi culture a very harsh attitude toward animals, which is 
often attributed to the stern views of the more conservative 
elements of the population and their suspicion and abhorrence 
of foreign practices -- especially non-Muslim practices. 
When the media publishes stories of Westerners who dedicate 
their wealth to animals, many conservatives recall the 
stories of the thousands of people who die of hunger and 
disease in Third World countries, as well as those who have 
lost their homes and lives in Afghanistan, Iraq, "Palestine," 
and Lebanon.  They do not see the care given to dogs and cats 
as a sign of kindness and mercy, rather as a lack of humanity. 
 
¶6. (U) The "elites" who are seen with their dogs, cats, and 
birds on the streets of the main Saudi cities are considered 
by the conservative population as westernized nouveau riches. 
 According to them, these individuals do not really keep 
their pets out of kindness, but rather to show that they are 
"civilized --" a mentality that was allegedly used to justify 
the Governor of Makkah's decision to ban the sale of pets. 
 
¶7. (U) COMMENT:  This contrast between the words of the 
Qura'an and the Prophet Mohammad, which imply that kindness 
must be shown to animals, and the general distaste that most 
Muslims have for dogs is yet another of the many 
contradictions in Saudi society.  In this instance, it is 
very much a struggle between the old and new.  Some will say 
that the field of "action" for the more conservative elements 
of Saudi society is constricting.  Therefore, there is an 
increased focus on the more inane issues, such as banning 
pets and Pokemon videos.  An old joke has again come to life. 
 A Mutawa'a's neighbor asked him how to purify a wall that 
had been dirtied by a dog's waste.  The Mutawa'a advised that 
it was necessary to take the wall down and rebuild it seven 
times.  The neighbor then asked the Mutawa'a to pay 50 
percent of the wall's building and destruction costs since it 
separated their two homes.  The Mutawa'a calmly replied, "My 
son, a little water can purify the wall.  Islam is easy." 
END COMMENT. 
OBERWETTER