Identifier	Created	Classification	Origin
01HARARE3009	2001-10-10 06:24:00	UNCLASSIFIED	Embassy Harare

Cable title:

RESPONSE OF ZIMBABWEAN MUSLIM/ISLAMIC POLITICAL

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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

100624Z Oct 01

 

                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTO8086

PAGE 01        HARARE  03009  100655Z 
ACTION SS-00    

INFO  LOG-00   AF-00    UTED-00  TEDE-00  INR-00   PA-00    PM-00    
      PRS-00   SCT-00   SSO-00   PMB-00   SAS-00     /000W
                  ------------------2C6C8D  100655Z /75    
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9992

					  UNCLAS HARARE 003009 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR TASK FORCE 1 - PD, INFO AF/PD (COX, ROBERTSON, 
SANDERS) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OPRC ZI
SUBJECT: RESPONSE OF ZIMBABWEAN MUSLIM/ISLAMIC POLITICAL 
LEADERS 
 
REF:  STATE 175484

1. ZIMBABWEAN MUSLIM/ISLAMIC LEADERS HAVE NOT OFFERED
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON EVENTS IN AFGHANISTAN.

2. MUSLIMS IN ZIMBABWE ARE PRIMARILY WELL EDUCATED AND
INFORMED MERCHANTS AND PROFESSIONALS, PEOPLE NOT EASILY
SWAYED BY EMOTIONAL RHETORIC. THE COMMUNITY'S RELIGIOUS
LEADERS GENERALLY REFLECT THE SOPHISTICATION OF THEIR
CONSTITUENTS. ONE INFLUENTIAL MEMBER OF ZIMBABWE'S SMALL
ISLAMIC COMMUNITY TOLD PAO THAT MUSLIMS HERE WERE
"HEARTBROKEN" ABOUT THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS AND DO NOT
IDENTIFY WITH BIN LADEN OR THE TALIBAN'S RADICALLY
FUNDAMENTAL INTERPRETATION OF ISLAM. THE CONTACT SAID THAT
WHILE ZIMBABWEAN MUSLIMS MAY HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT THE U.S.
MILITARY ACTIONS AGAINST THE TALIBAN, THEY ARE MORE BROADLY
REFLECTIVE OF ZIMBABWEAN, RATHER THAN MUSLIM, MISGIVINGS
ABOUT THE WISDOM OF MILITARY ACTION AGAINST A TARGET AS
ELUSIVE AS BIN LADEN AND HIS TALIBAN SUPPORTERS.

SULLIVAN

UNCLASSIFIED

>