US embassy cable - 05MANAMA968

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000968 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, BA 
SUBJECT: POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS CONDEMN LONDON 
BOMBINGS 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
. 
 
1.  (SBU) In letters of condolence to British officials which 
were widely published in the Bahraini media, the King, the 
Prime Minister, and the Crown Prince condemned the July 7 
terrorist attack in London and called it a criminal act that 
contradicted religious and humanitarian principles.  The King 
stated that global efforts will help eradicate terrorism and 
that democratic principles, freedoms, and peace and security 
will prevail.  He also praised the "joint vision" of Bahrain 
and the UK regarding democracy and human rights issues. 
Minister of Information and Minister of State for Foreign 
Affairs Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar told the press that Bahrain 
condemned the bombings and the targeting of innocent people 
and the destruction of public property.  "Such attacks 
contravene all religious and divine laws and are against 
moral and human values," he said.  Abdul Ghaffar noted that 
Bahrain backs every measure that the UK must take to maintain 
security and stability and called on the international 
community to intensify efforts to eradicate terrorism. 
 
2.  (SBU) In his July 8 Friday prayers, prominent Shi'a 
cleric Sheikh Isa Qassem condemned the attack and said that 
Islam requires the condemnation of any and all terrorist 
activities regardless of the perpetrator.  Noting the 
international uproar against the London bombings, he called 
for an equally strong condemnation of terrorism in Iraq, 
particularly by Arab and Islamic countries.  Shi'a cleric and 
Al Wifaq President Sheikh Ali Salman conveyed condolences to 
the British people and denounced terrorist activities against 
innocent people in London, Iraq, and elsewhere. 
 
3.  (SBU) The Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society issued a 
public statement against the bombings and urged people to 
join a silent vigil outside the British embassy in Bahrain on 
July 10.  Local columnists denounced the attack, and some 
commentators worried that it would lead to a rise in 
harassment of Muslims in the West. 
 
4.  (C) Abdul Ghaffar, in a July 9 conversation with the 
Ambassador, said he was very upset about the London bombings 
and wanted to explore how to use radio and television in a 
better way to get across the message that Islam is a religion 
of moderation and tolerance and is against terrorism. 
MONROE