US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT2092

UNCLAS KUWAIT 002092 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PD, P, PA AND SA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, KPAO, KMDR, KU, PHUM, SOCI, ISLAMISTS 
SUBJECT: REPORTS OF QURANIC DESECRATION SPARK LITTLE 
PROTEST IN KUWAIT 
 
REF: A. STATE 90992 
     B. STATE 88240 
 
1. Summary: Although local press have covered the story of 
supposed Quranic desecration at Guantanamo Bay, and some 
local Islamist groups have issued statements condemning the 
alleged actions, post has received little feedback from local 
contacts which would indicate widespread anger over the 
story, or that it would in any way negatively impact 
bilateral relations.  End Summary. 
 
2. Since the alleged Quran desecration story surfaced May 12 
and 13, no press inquiries or protests have been directed to 
post's Public Affairs or Political sections.  On May 14, 
Public Affairs sent a press release in Arabic and English to 
all major media outlets in Kuwait featuring the Secretary's 
May 12 statement before the Senate Appropriations 
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related 
Programs.  Although the papers ran portions of the 
Secretary's statement as part of larger stories, the press 
 
SIPDIS 
release was not published as a separate article. 
 
3. Several articles have featured condemnation of the alleged 
desecration from Islamist sources, but none have received 
prominent placement.  According to the English language daily 
The Daily Star, the Kuwait-based International Islamic 
Charity Foundation issued a statement on May 16 describing 
the alleged incident as "humiliation for the Holy Quran in 
which 1.5 billion Muslims believe," called upon U.S. 
authorities to speed up their investigations and urged Muslim 
governments to "shoulder their responsibilities in defending 
the Holy Quran."  The Congregation of Shiite Scholars also 
condemned the alleged abuses, but added that it "is confident 
the abuse is an isolated act carried out by a foolish 
investigator." 
 
4. Although Newsweek's retraction has also been covered by 
local press, the issue has been largely overshadowed by the 
May 16 National Assembly vote which granted women political 
rights. 
 
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Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
 
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State Department's Classified SIPRNET website 
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LEBARON