US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI2500

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002500 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR DRL, NEA/ARPI, AND NEA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KIRF, KISL, TC 
SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS LEADERS DISCUSS QU'RAN DESECRATION 
 
REF: (A) STATE 88240, (B) STATE 90992, (C) ABU DHABI 2179 
 
1. (SBU) DURING A MEETING MAY 24 WITH UAE RELIGIOUS ADVISOR, 
DR. ALI AL HASHEMI, AND A MEETING MAY 31 WITH MINISTRY OF 
JUSTICE UNDER SECRETARY FOR ISLAMIC AFFAIRS, DR. MOHAMED JUMA 
AL MEHAIRI, POL CHIEF DISCUSSED THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE 
DESECRATION OF THE HOLY QU'RAN AT THE DETENTION FACILITY AT 
GUANTANAMO BAY.  BOTH AL HASHEMI AND AL MEHAIRI CALLED THE 
DESECRATION INCIDENTS ACTS BY "IRRESPONSIBLE" PEOPLE.  THEY 
SAID THAT THE USG WAS NOT TO BLAME, BUT IT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR 
THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, INCLUDING RELIGIOUS RIGHTS. 
THEY CALLED FOR THE PROSECUTION OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE 
FOUND RESPONSIBLE FOR DESECRATING THE QU'RAN.  POL CHIEF 
PROVIDED COPIES OF THE SECRETARY'S MAY 12 REMARKS ON RESPECT 
FOR THE QU'RAN.  BOTH OFFICIALS APPLAUDED THE USG'S 
CONDEMNATION OF THESE ACTIONS.  THE AMBASSADOR HAD DISCUSSED 
THE ALLEGATION THAT THE QU'RAN HAD BEEN DESECRATED AND THE 
SECRETARY'S REMARKS WITH MFA UNDER SECRETARY ABDULLAH RASHID AL 
 
SIPDIS 
NOAIMI ON MAY 14 (REF C). 
 
2. (SBU) THE VISITS TO MEET WITH THE RELIGIOUS ADVISOR AND THE 
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE'S UNDER SECRETARY FOR ISLAMIC AFFAIRS WERE 
PLANNED AS PART OF OUR ONGOING OUTREACH TO THE DIFFERENT 
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES AND AS PART OF OUR PREPARATION OF THE 
ANNUAL REPORT ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE UAE.  POL CHIEF AND 
POL ASSISTANT NOTED THE UAE'S RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, AND 
EXPRESSED OUR INTEREST IN MAINTAINING A DIALOGUE WITH RELIGIOUS 
AFFAIRS OFFICIALS. 
 
SISON