Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BAGHDAD4004
2005-09-27 11:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

SHIA IMAMS IN FAVOR OF CONSTITUTION, BUT THEIR

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PINR 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004004 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR
SUBJECT: SHIA IMAMS IN FAVOR OF CONSTITUTION, BUT THEIR
FLOCKS HAVE RESERVATIONS

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT FORD FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004004

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR
SUBJECT: SHIA IMAMS IN FAVOR OF CONSTITUTION, BUT THEIR
FLOCKS HAVE RESERVATIONS

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT FORD FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY. In a conversation on September 26 two
moderate Shia Imams, both followers of Grand Ayatollah
Sistani, told PolOff they would vote in favor of the
constitution in the October 15 elections. They said they
had set up an organization to tell more Iraqis about the
constitution. Some people who pray at their mosques,
however, have reservations about the document. END
SUMMARY.


2. (C) Sheikh Ayad al Ekabi, imam of the Al Rasool mosque
and Sayed Faris al Jazaeri, imam of the Al Muntather
mosque, both located in the Al Zafaraniya neighborhood of
Baghdad, said they had set up a new organization called
"Rafidai al Iraq" with the help of the U.S. Institute For
Peace. They said the organization has so far held six
conferences to promote knowledge about the Iraqi draft
constitution. Sheikh Ayad told PolOff he has been
encouraging people to read the draft several times, telling
them, "when you first read the draft, you will hate it."
He said he also tells them that by the time they read it
the fourth time, they will "love it so much they will want
to tell others about it." These conferences are largely
informational in nature; the imams provide information and
answer questions from the attendees. The imams do tell
people they will vote in favor of the constitution, but
they tell Iraqis they should simply learn as much as
possible about the constitution and make up their own
minds.


3. (C) Sheikh Ayad and Sayed Faris told PolOff the most
common reservations Iraqi Shiites have regarding the
constitution are federalism, the distribution of natural
resources, and how one obtains Iraqi citizenship. Many
Iraqis tell them that federalism is the first step toward
the break-up of Iraq. They also worry that natural
resources will not be distributed fairly, and Baghdad will
be left without adequate supplies of oil and natural gas.
These Iraqis also feel that children born abroad who have
only one Iraqi parent will not know about Iraq and
therefore should not be granted full citizenship. Sheikh
Ayad and Sayed Faris said many Shiites fear that, if these
issues are not handled properly, the unity of Iraq will be
threatened. Poloff said that the constitution was the best
way to ensure the future stability and unity of Iraq.


4. (C) COMMENT: Both Imams report over 100 attendees at
Friday prayers at their respective mosques. We will
encourage them to use their organization to spread a
message of moderation to a broader range of Baghdad Shia.


Khalilzad