VZCZCXRO2636
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHJI #0370 2451258
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011258Z SEP 08
FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0888
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 8026

C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000370 
 
SIPDIS 
 
RIYADH PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP; 
DEPARTMENT FOR JLIEBERMAN IN DRL/NESCA; DEPARTMENT FOR 
AGOMBIS IN DRL/IRF; 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2013 
TAGS: PGOV PROP PTER SOCI SCUL KISL KMDR KIRF PINS
KOCI, SA 
SUBJECT: PRINCE KHALID DECREES CLOSE OF ALL SUMMER CAMPS IN 
MECCA REGION AS PART OF A CAMPAIGN AGAINST EXTREMISM 
 
Classified By: Acting Consul General G Stoner for Reasons 1.4 (b) and ( 
d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY. A blog recently revealed that Mecca region 
governor Prince Khalid Al-Faisal is closing religious summer 
camps for Saudi youth in the Mecca region. The particular 
type of camps being shut and the extent to which this has 
actually impacted operations is the subject of local debate. 
Several local Jeddawi sources commented to PolOff about the 
new policy and the rumors surrounding it. Indications are 
that this is an attempt by the Prince to derail summer camps 
breeding extremism and that a licensing process has been put 
in place to insure that some camps continue to operate. END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) A blogger on the conservative blog Al-Saha noted 
surprise and questioned Prince Khalid,s decision to cancel 
all religious summer camps in Jeddah and Mecca. The blogger 
questioned why the camps have been shut down in this region, 
while they remain operating throughout the rest of the 
Kingdom. Additionally, the member of Al-Saha claims that the 
camps are recreational and only promote good. 
 
¶3. (C) After a meeting with PolOff, Nawaf Jamjoom, a Jeddawi 
businessman with school- aged children, agreed to check with 
his sources and then informed that "it is true that summer 
camps have been cancelled" and further that, "these are pure 
summer camps that setup tents or portable cabins on empty 
lots." While not specifically mentioning any religious or 
extremist aspect of the camps, Jamjoom hints at the cause of 
Prince Khalid's decision noting that, "it is believed that 
the main reason behind canceling them is because the lectures 
are not monitored or approved by any entity." 
 
¶4. (C) A local Shi'a Imam and religious leader, Mohamad Atia, 
met with PolOff and offered his understanding of the closure 
issue. He said that he heard about the ruling and it reflects 
that "Prince Khalid is against religious things".  He went on 
to explain that the camps are usually religious and focused 
on reciting Koran, some being good and others bad. He 
admitted that "bad" camps often preach intolerance towards 
other groups. He explained that, for example, some of these 
camps might teach that, "America is your enemy". Atia heard 
that there is a licensing process for camps and that the rule 
is not being applied uniformly. 
 
¶5. (C) PolOff met with Sami Nawar, a Jeddawi employee of the 
Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, and asked about the 
reported closure of summer camps. Nawar paused, then laughed, 
and commented that the Prince is very strict. He went on to 
note that he had recently been in a meeting with Prince 
Khalid. The Prince said they were shutting down all the camps 
in order to prevent the growth of "fanatics". Nawar said that 
there is now a registration process for camps and that they 
must submit applications on time in order to open. Nawar was 
not specific as to how the process works, but did say that 
there are criteria in place. 
 
¶6. (C) A local public high school teacher, Aiman Alharby met 
with PolOff and noted that summer camps have all closed, 
including both religious and non-religious camps. He went on 
to say that he is aware of a licensing process in place 
allowing limited camps to continue operating. 
 
¶7. (C) COMMENT. The various accounts indicate that Prince 
Khalid has attempted to close down extremist religious summer 
camps in the Mecca province, particularly those that preach 
hate to children. The measure, which is interpreted by some 
locally as being heavy-handed, has not actually caused the 
closure of all summer camps, but instead led to a process to 
insure that those remaining opening meet certain criteria. 
The set of criteria is likely designed to insure that the 
camps are recreational in nature and if religiously based, 
not extreme. It is not yet clear the extent to which the 
policy is being enforced or what are the exact criteria and 
structure of the licensing process. END COMMENT. 
TONEY