MIXED REACTION BY SUNNI ARABS TO CONSTITUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004228

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2025
TAGS: PGOV PINS PNAT IZ
SUBJECT: MIXED REACTION BY SUNNI ARABS TO CONSTITUTION
AMENDMENTS

Classified By: Political Counselor Robert Ford for reasons
1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) An official from the Sunni Arab-dominated Iraqi
Islamic Party (IIP),Nasir Al-Ani, told PolOff October 13
the IIP remains resolutely in support of the constitution
despite insurgents firing rocket-propelled grenades on the
IIP office in Fallujah October 13. Al-Ani said there were
no casualties in the attack. PolOff commended the IIP for
its stance. On October 13 evening IIP spokesman Ayed
Samarrai'e was on several Arab media outlets defending the
IIP change of position and urging support for the
constitution. There were reports of bomb threats against
the IIP headquarters in Baghdad on October 14. Hayat
newspaper October 14 reported the IIP had announced also on
October 13 that one of its activists was murdered in
Zafraniya by an armed gang. (MNF-I and Embassy personnel
met with IIP officials October 13 to discuss security
precautions.)


2. (C) Sunni Waqf leader Sheikh Ahmed Abdelghafur
Samarrai'e released a statement October 13 to "bless and
support" Iraqi Islamic Party's (IIP) approval of the
constitutional amendments. Samarrai'e is in Qatar and
unavailable for comment. Despite our repeated requests by
telephone this past week; he has refused to go on
television in support of the constitution. His son told
PolFSN on October 13 that the Sunni Waqf chose to give
indirect support for the constitution lest it cause a rift
with the Muslim Ulema Council. PolCons urged acting Waqf
leader Ibrahim Taha on October 13 to ensure Friday sermons
were balanced on the constitution. Taha also demurred,
saying that the Waqf's position was well known after its
public statement. He added that communications between the
headquarters in Baghdad and mosques around the country was
not sufficient to alert imams quickly.


3. (U) Senior Muslim Ulema Council official Abd al-Salam
al-Kubaisi on October 13 called the constitutional
amendments a "conspiracy" by the U.S. to divide Iraq.
Meanwhile, the Conference of Iraqi People, led by former
Sunni Waqf director Adnan Dulaimi, reiterated its call for
Iraqis to vote against the draft constitution "to preserve
the nation's unity," according to Hayat newspaper October

14.


4. (C) Iraqi radio stations reported October 13 that ICND
spokesman Saleh Mutlaq called upon the IIP to change its
stance on their new support for the constitution.
Iraqi Council for National Dialogue (ICND) member Sa'adoon
al-Zubaidi told PolOff October 13 that the amendments were
a "clever ploy" by the TNA to give the appearance of
assuaging Sunni demands. But, he continued, no real
constitutional changes will occur because Kurdish voters
could overturn any proposals by a two-thirds vote in Irbil,
Sulaymaniyah, and Dahuk provinces. PolOff countered that
the amendments made the constitution more beneficial to all
Iraqis.


5. (C) Comment: polls show that the two most influential
political forces in the Sunni Arab community are the Muslim
Ulema Council and the Iraqi Islamic Party. The last-moment
switch in the Iraqi Islamic Party position, and its field
offices' ceasing their advocacy against the constitution,
should switch some - but not all - Sunni Arab votes to
support the constitution on October 15. This turn boosts
the likelihood of the constitution passing, but criticism
from the harder line Sunni Arab political groups is not
likely to fade right away. On October 13 IIP leaders were
wondering whether their decision would impede their effort
to form a broad Sunni Arab Islamist electoral list for the
December elections.


Khalilzad