THE MADRASSAS OF RANGOON

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000805

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, DRL/IRF, EB
TREASURY FOR OASIA JEFF NEIL
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2014
TAGS: SCUL PGOV PTER EFIN KISL BM
SUBJECT: THE MADRASSAS OF RANGOON


Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)


1. (S) Summary: Despite pervasive and sometimes aggressive
religious discrimination that favors Burma's Buddhist
majority, Islamic religious education has survived and
flourished in Rangoon Division. Though Rangoon's madrassas
operate under vigilant MI attention, there are up to 130
schools -- some of which offer full-time boarding programs.
Rangoon's madrassas, and Burma's main Islamic groups, rely on
international assistance for their operation. However, we've
no evidence that these institutions are hotbeds of any
anti-American sentiment or teachings. End summary.

Islamic Education Flourishes in Rangoon


2. (SBU) According to GOB data, there are 111 madrassas in
Rangoon Division, with 20 major boarding schools -- which
take students between the ages of 11 and 24. Muslim leaders
in Rangoon say that the total number of madrassas is closer
to 130, though they agree that there are 20 major
institutions. The remaining schools are small
community-based institutions that teach local youth, boys and
girls from the age of three, about the Qu'ran and Islam.


3. (SBU) Though we don't know the total number of students in
Rangoon-area madrassas, one large madrassa principal told us
the "Big 20" have around 1800 total students and the largest
community-based schools have around 150 students at any one
time.


4. (SBU) At the larger schools the course of study is from
four to 10 years, depending on whether the student is
striving for "Maulvi" status or simply the "Hafiz" title.
Particularly bright madrassa students in Rangoon are
sponsored by local Muslim groups to continue their studies
abroad -- especially in India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and
Egypt. According to one madrassa administrator the most
popular foreign universities for Rangoon madrassa students
are the Kassimia Deobandhi University in India, the Mazawahir
rul Ulum in India, and the Al Azhal University in Egypt. Of
course this overseas travel by Muslims is often complicated
by discriminatory GOB policies that make it difficult for
members of "sensitive" populations to get a passport. Thus,
there is a thriving passport brokerage industry (mostly for
genuine passports acquired with bribes or fake names) in
Rangoon's Muslim community.


5. (SBU) There is surprising freedom in the Rangoon
madrassas, which may or may not exist in other parts of the
country. They are allowed to teach a wide array of basic and
advanced Qu'ranic studies, including Qu'ranic doctrine and
recitation of the Qu'ran. Also, the GOB exempts those
students attending the boarding madrassas from attending
regular government school -- a benefit not offered to
students at tolerated Christian or Hindu religious schools.
The madrassas offer Arabic, English, and Burmese classes and
often one or more other language such as Urdu or Farsi. One
local madrassa even offers a basic computer course, though
this is rare because of lack of funds and instructors in
fields other than language and religious studies.

Foreign Influence Exists Under MI's Watchful Eye


6. (C) Despite this fairly positive situation, the madrassas,
the instructors, the students, and the curriculum fall under
the ever watchful eye of the Ministry of Religious Affairs
and the ubiquitous military intelligence (MI). Through MI
infiltration and spot checks by other authorities, the GOB
tries to ensure the madrassa instructors do not stray into
political or other sensitive matters -- including
anti-Americanism. Likewise the authorities try to keep tabs
on the students at these madrassas by requiring the schools,
especially the larger boarding schools, to present a daily
list of overnight students and their activities. The MI also
keeps an eye on the comings and goings of the day madrassa
pupils.


7. (C) This does not always stop outside influence at the
local madrassas. Traveling Islamic teachers from Pakistan,
India, China, and Iran in particular, occasionally appear as
guest speakers at local mosques and madrassas. Usually these
visitors come in on tourist visas and are camouflaged and
protected by the local community as much as possible from
prying eyes. However, we suspect the MI knows about these
cases and allows them to happen anyway.


8. (S) The madrassas, and the Muslim community in Burma as a
whole, survives to a large extent on outside funding. Such
funding is very difficult to track, as it comes in almost
always by courier or via Burma's vast informal "hundi"
remittance network directly to local individuals or
organizations. However, local Muslim groups tell us
charitable organizations from Saudi Arabia, India, Turkey,
and Pakistan send money regularly. One name mentioned was
the Al Rashid-Muslim Brotherhood Foundation from Karachi.
(Note: We were unable to determine if this is the same as the
Al Rashid Foundation on the terrorist finance list.) Other
funds are raised from wealthy local Muslim businesspeople.

Comment: Even Activists are Politically Neutral


9. (S) Though the madrassa system is large and active, and
external funding is widespread, we have no evidence that
these schools are harboring anti-American elements or
teaching anti-western doctrine. Though we believe perhaps 50
percent of the major madrassas in Rangoon are headed by
individuals who could be classified as "fundamentalist," fear
of MI intervention keeps their preaching and teaching from
being explicitly anti-American or anti-western. In fact, the
madrassa system is a bright spot in Burma's otherwise dim
religious freedom picture. End comment.
Martinez