Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05AMMAN7211
2005-09-08 13:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

FY-05 RP: "PROMOTING INTERFAITH DIALOGUE," NOVEMBER

Tags:  OEXC SCUL JO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 AMMAN 007211 

SIPDIS

ECA/PE/V/R/N (SABED-KOTOB, EDIGGINS); NEA/PPD (DBENZE);
NEA/ARN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL JO
SUBJECT: FY-05 RP: "PROMOTING INTERFAITH DIALOGUE," NOVEMBER
21 - DECEMBER 10, 2005

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 AMMAN 007211

SIPDIS

ECA/PE/V/R/N (SABED-KOTOB, EDIGGINS); NEA/PPD (DBENZE);
NEA/ARN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL JO
SUBJECT: FY-05 RP: "PROMOTING INTERFAITH DIALOGUE," NOVEMBER
21 - DECEMBER 10, 2005


1. THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION IN IRAQ NOMINATES THREE
PARTICIPANTS FOR SUBJECT PROGRAM.


2. MR.DALUZ A. MOHAMMED, MR.MAJID I. MOHAMED, AND MR. MUNIR

H. KHUDAIR HAVE RECEIVED COUNTRY TEAM APPROVAL FOR THEIR
PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM.


3. START FIXED-FORMAT TEXT (PLEASE DO NOT EDIT):
: THE FOLLOWING DATA IS IN A FIXED FORMAT WHICH ENABLES
: AUTOMATED PROCESSING IN WASHINGTON AND SHOULD NOT BE
: EDITED EXCEPT BY MEANS OF THE POST-EVDB SOFTWARE.
EXPORT-SOURCE: POST-EVDB
VERSION: 3.0.7
POST-EMAIL: ALDADAWM@STATE.GOV
TRANSMITTING-POST: PAS AMMAN
TRANSMITTING-POST-ID: 2887
EXPORT-TYPE: BIO DATA
START NOMINATION:
ECA-OFFICE: E/VGN
PROG-AGENCY-NAME:
POST-PROJ-ID: 270
ECA-PROJ-NO: E/VGN-2006-0013
PROJ-NAME: PROMOTING INTERFAITH DIALOGUE / IRAQ
START MEMO PROJ-DESC:

END MEMO PROJ-DESC:
PROJ-TYPE: REGIONAL
PROG-TYPE: IV GRANT VISITOR
FY: 2005
DEPART-POST: 11/19/2005
SESSION-DATE: 11/21/2005
RETURN-POST: 12/10/2005
NO-OF-PART: 3
RANK-ORDER: 0
START MEMO POST-OBJ:

END MEMO POST-OBJ:
START MEMO POST-RCMD:

END MEMO POST-RCMD:
ECA-OFFICE-ID: 1039
PROG-AGENCY-ID:
PROJ-TYPE-ID: RP
PROG-TYPE-ID: 29
NOMINATING-POST-ID: 2887
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID:
STATUS: N
ORIGINATOR: U
SUBJ-DISC:
START BIO:
PREFIX: MR.
F-NAME: MAJID
M-NAME: I.
L-NAME: MOHAMED
SUFFIX:
POSITION-CODE: 350
PRINCIPAL: YES
GENDER: M
DOB: 06/21/1960
MAR-STAT:
BIRTH-CITY: BAGHDAD
BIRTH-CNTRY: IRAQ
CITIZ-CNTRY: IRAQ
RES-CNTRY: IRAQ
START MEMO POSITION:
IMAM OF THE "GRAND MOSQUE," SULAIMANIYA, IRAQ, PAST MANY
YEARS
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:

END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:

END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
NONE
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
JORDAN
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
BA, ISLAMIC SCIENCE AND HISTORY, ISLAMABAD, LAHOOR,
PAKISTAN, 1992-1996
END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
NONE
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
NONE
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
NO PORK
NO ALCOHOL
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: KURDISH
ENGL-READ: 3
ENGL-SPEAK: 3
ENGL-COMP: 3
START OTHER-LANGS:

OTHER-LANG: ARABIC
OTHER-LANG-ID: AR
READ: 0
SPEAK: 0
COMP: 0
END OTHER-LANGS:
START OTHER-LANGS:
OTHER-LANG: URDU
OTHER-LANG-ID: UR
READ: 0
SPEAK: 0
COMP: 0
END OTHER-LANGS:
START OTHER-LANGS:
OTHER-LANG: FARSI
OTHER-LANG-ID: FI
READ: 0
SPEAK: 0
COMP: 0
END OTHER-LANGS:
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:

END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:

END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:

END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:

END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: BILL GRANT, GC, CPA SULAIMANIYA
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
SHEIK MAJID IS ONE OF THE CHIEF CLERICS IN SULAIMANIYA AND
FORMERLY HELD ELECTED POSITIONS IN SULAIMANIYA; HE GAVE UP
THESE POSITIONS BECAUSE HE FELT THEY WERE TOO POLITICIZED
AND HE WANTED TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT. SHEIK MAJID HOLDS A
VERY PRO-COALITION VIEWPOINT AND PREACHES ABOUT THE FUTURE
OF THE "NEW IRAQ" TO HIS HUNDREDS OF FOLLOWERS. INFLUENTIAL,
INTELLIGENT, AND RELATIVELY YOUNG AMONG THE RELIGIOUS
LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITY, SHEIK MAJID IS A GREAT CANDIDATE
FOR AN IV PROGRAM.


END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: IRAQ-SULAIMANIYA
SPEAKER: NO
NOTIFY-EMB: NO
MEDIA: NO
HOME-STAY: NO
HOME-HOSP: YES
E-I-TYPE: INTERPRETER
NOMINEE-ID: 443
PERSON-ID: 445
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: IZ
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: IZ
RES-CNTRY-ID: IZ
FIRST-LANG-ID: KU
E-I-TYPE-ID: I
NOM-POST-ID: 2887
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 43698
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT: 38.0299
SPONS-FUNDS: 0
SPONS-AGENCY1: DOS
USGOVT-AGENCY1: DOS
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 8000
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT: 5
END BIO:
START BIO:
PREFIX: MR.
F-NAME: MUNIR
M-NAME: H.
L-NAME: KHUDAIR
SUFFIX:
POSITION-CODE: 350
PRINCIPAL: YES
GENDER: M
DOB: 01/19/1967
MAR-STAT: M
BIRTH-CITY: BAGHDAD
BIRTH-CNTRY: IRAQ
CITIZ-CNTRY: IRAQ
RES-CNTRY: IRAQ
START MEMO POSITION:
IMAM, SHAHEED AL-SABRI MOSQUE, BAGHDAD
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:

END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
ENGINEER AND BUILDING CONTRACTOR
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
NONE
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
TWO TRIPS TO SAUDI ARABIA FOR THE HAJ; SYRIA; UAE

END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
M.A. SHARIA (ISLAMIC LAW),SHARIA ACADEMY, BAGHDAD, 1998;
B.A. ENGINEERING, BAGHDAD TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY, 1991


END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
MEMBER, IRAQI ISLAMIC PARTY; MEMBER, ENGINEERING SYNDICATE

END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
NONE
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
NO ALCOHOL
NO PORK
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: ARABIC
ENGL-READ: 3
ENGL-SPEAK: 3
ENGL-COMP: 3
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:

END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:

END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:

END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:

END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: JEFFREY BEALS
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
MUNIR KHUDAIR IS AN EXTREMELY INTRIGUING AND APPROPRIATE
CANDIDATE FOR AN IV PROGRAM ON INTERFAITH DIALOGUE. HE IS A
SUNNI ARAB CLERIC WHO HAS BEEN DEVASTATED BY THE VIOLENCE
AND DESTRUCTION IN IRAQ SINCE THE FALL OF SADDAM HUSAYN'S
REGIME. HE IS ALSO A CLERIC WHO HAD HIS OWN DEEP MISGIVINGS
ABOUT THE RULE OF SADDAM HUSAYN. MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE IS A
RELIGIOUS LEADER WHO HAS DEEP DOUBTS ABOUT U.S. INTENTIONS
IN THE MIDDLE EAST BUT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE LACKS FIRST-HAND
INFORMATION ABOUT AMERICA. I WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN HE HAD
MET AND THE EXPERIENCE WAS JARRING FOR US BOTH. KHUDAIR IS
MORE THAN A SKEPTIC ABOUT AMERICA'S TOLERANCE - HE IS A
LEADING MEMBER OF THE IRAQI ISLAMIC ORGANIZATION AND MUSLIM
ULEMA COUNCIL, TWO OF THE SUNNI ARAB ORGANIZATIONS MOST
CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ. BOTH GROUPS
HAVE BEEN ANGRY CRITICS OF THE OCCUPATION, AND BOTH WILL
NEED TO COME ON BOARD THE POLITICAL PROCESS IF A NEW IRAQ IS
TO BE BUILT. KHUDAIR IS GAMBLING BY EVEN ANNOUNCING HIS
DESIRE TO VISIT THE UNITED STATES. THAT LEVEL OF
FLEXIBILITY AND OPENNESS COULD COST HIM HIS LIFE FROM SOME
OF HIS CONGREGANTS. WE SHOULD TAKE HIM UP ON THE OFFER.


END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: BAGHDAD
SPEAKER: NO
NOTIFY-EMB: YES
MEDIA: NO
HOME-STAY: NO
HOME-HOSP: YES
E-I-TYPE: INTERPRETER
NOMINEE-ID: 604
PERSON-ID: 603
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: IZ
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: IZ
RES-CNTRY-ID: IZ
FIRST-LANG-ID: AR
E-I-TYPE-ID: I
NOM-POST-ID: 2887
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 0
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT: 38.0201
SPONS-FUNDS: 8000
SPONS-AGENCY1:
USGOVT-AGENCY1:
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT: 5
END BIO:
START BIO:
PREFIX: MR.
F-NAME: DALSUZ
M-NAME: AHMAD
L-NAME: MOHAMMED
SUFFIX:
POSITION-CODE: 350
PRINCIPAL: YES
GENDER: M
DOB: 12/26/1971
MAR-STAT: M
BIRTH-CITY: KHANAQIN, DIYALA PROV
BIRTH-CNTRY: IRAQ
CITIZ-CNTRY: IRAQ
RES-CNTRY: IRAQ
START MEMO POSITION:
1996 - PRESENT: IMAM
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:

END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:

END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
NONE
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
JAN 2005 - SAUDI ARABIA (HAJJ); SEP 2002 - JUL 2003: YEMEN
(TO WORK AS A TEACHER); SEP 2002 - JORDAN (TRAVEL); OCT 1999
- JORDAN (TOURISM)

END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
1993 - 1997: B.A. ISLAMIC SCIENCE, FUNDAMENTALS OF
RELIGION, BAGHDAD UNIVERSITY


END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
MARCH 2005 - PRESENT: MEMBER OF THE DIYALA PROVINCIAL
COUNCIL; COUNCIL OF ISLAMIC SCHOLARS (SUNNI);
KURDISH ISLAMIC PARTY

END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
GRADUATION THESIS
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
NO PORK
NO ALCOHOL
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: ARABIC
ENGL-READ: 1
ENGL-SPEAK: 1
ENGL-COMP: 1
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:

END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:

END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:

END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:
END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: SHERMAN L. GRANDY
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
AN IMAM, DALSOUZ AHMAD MOHAMAD HAS BEEN A KEY LEADER IN
DIYALA PROVINCE ADVOCATING UNITY AND TOLERANCE AND REJECTING
SECTARIANISM AND TERRORISM. HE HAS FREQUENTLY ENCOURAGED
HIS FOLLOWERS TO SEEK A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO IRAQ'S
INSURGENCY. HE HAS ACTIVELY WORKED WITH COALITION FORCES IN
PROMOTING RECONSTRUCTION. AS A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL, HE IS AN INCLUSIVE LEADER, REACHING OUT
TO SHIITE MEMBERS. HE HAS ALSO ESTABLISHED INTERFAITH
RELATIONS WITH ATHEISTS IN MUQDADIYAH DISTRICT. HE A STRONG
AND NATURAL CANDIDATE FOR THE PROMOTING INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
REGIONAL PROGRAM.
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: SET-DIYALA
SPEAKER: NO
NOTIFY-EMB: NO
MEDIA: NO
HOME-STAY: NO
HOME-HOSP: YES
E-I-TYPE: INTERPRETER
NOMINEE-ID: 605
PERSON-ID: 604
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: IZ
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: IZ
RES-CNTRY-ID: IZ
FIRST-LANG-ID: AR
E-I-TYPE-ID: I
NOM-POST-ID: 2887
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 0
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT: 38.0201
SPONS-FUNDS: 8000
SPONS-AGENCY1:
USGOVT-AGENCY1:
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT: 5
END BIO:
END NOMINATION:
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT:

4. PLEASE ADVISE ACCEPTANCE.
HALE