US embassy cable - 05CAIRO3763

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003763 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KPAO, KISL, EG 
SUBJECT: POST CONTINUES TO ENGAGE KEY EGYPTIAN FIGURES ON 
KORAN DESECRATION STORY; EGYPTIAN REACTION MUTED 
 
REF: A. STATE 90992 (NOTAL) 
 
     B. CAIRO 3647 
     C. STATE 88240 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified by Charge Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  Embassy Cairo has engaged key contacts vigorously in 
response to initial allegations of Koran desecration at U.S. 
detention facilities in Guantanamo and Newsweek's subsequent 
retraction.  During a May 12 meeting with Prime Minister 
Nazif, the Charge drew from ref C talking points to emphasize 
that the U.S. condemns any form of desecration of the Koran. 
Poloff delivered the same message to the MFA Cabinet staff 
member responsible for Arab affairs, Alaa Hadidi, the same 
day.  Also on May 12, the Embassy posted Ambassador Boucher's 
and Secretary Rice's statements on our unclassified website 
and contacted key press contacts and media outlets to make 
sure they took note of these statements. 
 
2.  (SBU)  After Newsweek admitted that its story was 
erroneous, poloff highlighted the retraction in a May 16 
meeting with the Arab League Chief of Staff.  We prominently 
posted on our website May 17 the White House report (of May 
16) on Newsweek's retraction and disseminated the news to key 
press contacts via press release and e-mail.  On May 17 Post 
also shared the retraction with the Ministry of Defense and 
the foreign military attache community.  Post is in the 
process of informing the leaders of Egypt's key Islamic 
institutions of the retraction, including the Sheikh of Al 
Azhar, the Grand Mufti, and the Ministry of Religious 
Endowments, and anticipates reaching these individuals or key 
staff members by COB May 17. 
 
3.  (SBU)  The official reaction to the allegations in Egypt 
has been one of general condemnation of disrespect for the 
Koran rather than over-reaction to the allegations 
themselves.  The GOE, which is facing increasing pressure 
from domestic opposition groups, particularly from Islamic 
quarters, has no interest in fanning the flames of this 
story.  To date there have been no significant public 
demonstrations and expressions of anger, thanks in part to 
the GOE's interest in avoiding them. 
 
4.  (SBU)  Post will continue to engage with key contacts in 
Egypt to ensure that coverage of Newsweek's retraction and 
USG statements condemning desecration of the Koran receive as 
much attention and media play as possible.  Senior USG 
officials in Washington may wish to consider raising the 
retraction with Prime Minister Nazif during the course of his 
visit. 
 
 
Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. 
 
GRAY