US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE3128

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 003128 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR ECA, EUR/PPD, EUR/UBI, IIP/G/EUR 
POSTS FOR PAO 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, PREL, OEXC, SCUL, SOCI, NL 
SUBJECT: MISSION OUTREACH DURING RAMADAN 
 
REF: A) THE HAGUE 2870; B) THE HAGUE 3084 
 
1. (U)  Summary: Embassy staff participated in 19 outreach 
events during Ramadan this year, including hosting mission's 
first-ever Iftar dinner, attending small Iftar gatherings 
hosted by Muslim families in Amsterdam, participating in the 
country's first nationwide Ramadan festival, and hosting an 
international visitor from the Council on Islamic Education 
who conducted a series of workshops on religion and 
democracy. Mission participation went beyond public 
diplomacy staff and included political section, Foreign 
Commercial Service, economic section, the delegation to the 
Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons, 
Consulate General in Amsterdam, and front office staff. In 
addition, political officer assigned to cover Muslim issues 
held 13 separate meetings with Muslim representatives during 
the month-long festival. End Summary. 
 
BREAKING BREAD 
-------------- 
 
2. (U)  Mission staff attended large banquets and small 
family dinners. The Charge's Iftar dinner for 45 key 
contacts included many Muslim ambassadors and local Muslim 
leaders. Highlights were broadcast on a local Muslim 
television station. Mission staff attended five other Iftar 
dinners hosted by Muslim families, and participated in the 
country's first national Ramadan Festival - itself organized 
by Ahmed Larouz, a 2005 IVLP participant. Emboffs shared 
IIP' Muslim Life in America booklet at family Iftar dinners. 
 
FOOD FOR THOUGHT 
---------------- 
 
3. (U)  American speakers added their perspectives to the 
Dutch discussion on integration and religion. Dr. Kamran 
Ali, an American Fulbright scholar at the University of 
Leiden's International Institute for the Study of Islam in 
the Modern World (ISIM), lectured at the university about 
multiculturalism. Visiting American speaker Shabbir Mansuri 
of the California-based Council on Islamic Education 
addressed Dutch-Moroccan students and young leaders in four 
workshops on "Religion and Citizenship in a Democracy." The 
Charge hosted a dinner for Dr. Jessica Stern, Professor of 
Public Policy at Harvard and author of "Terrorism in the 
Name of God," who discussed radicalization in the 
Netherlands with dinner guests including national and local 
government officials, and academics. 
 
WHAT WE HEARD 
------------- 
 
4. (SBU) Emboffs heard repeatedly that ethnic tensions in 
The Netherlands are much worse now than they have ever been. 
A Moroccan-born Dutch national who works for the City of 
Amsterdam, in attendance at an Iftar dinner, told emboff 
that he was considering moving to Spain.  His rationale was 
that, even though the situation in Spain was not better for 
Moroccans, at least there he would truly be a foreigner. 
"Even though we tell people in Holland that we are Moroccan, 
we really are Dutch.  We never say it though.  They [native 
Dutch] would look at us weird if we did," said the official. 
 
5. (SBU) Views of the US vary based on personal experience 
and views of larger political events. On the personal level, 
though some parents may have a favorable view of the US 
stemming from fond memories of US assistance during their 
youth in Morocco, Moroccan youth in the Netherlands lack 
similar positive experiences of the U.S., and according to 
one observer, many parents don't share their experiences 
with their children. On the other hand, one middle-aged 
Dutch Moroccan man said, "What happened with relations 
between the U.S. and the Arab world?  Things used to be so 
good.  Why are U.S. policies against us now?" 
 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
6. (U) The broad array of events provided an excellent 
opportunity to listen and to bring our message of tolerance 
to various Muslim audiences.  Our embassy-hosted events also 
brought Dutch government officials and Muslim leaders 
together, something both sides have complained does not 
happen enough.  The publication on Muslim Life in America 
was well-received, and an eye-opener for people who knew 
nothing of that aspect of the American experience. 
Commenting on the Embassy's Iftar, Mohammed Sini, Director 
of the "Islam and Citizenship" Foundation said "Every 
gathering presents an opportunity to solve problems between 
Muslims, Christians, Jews and others. They all have to find 
a way to keep talking to each other." Embassy will continue 
to foster that discussion. 
 
 
BLAKEMAN