SUBJECT: SADR CITY YOUTH SPORTS NGO TEACHES

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004957 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2015 TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ SUBJECT: SUBJECT: SADR CITY YOUTH SPORTS NGO TEACHES MORALS AS WELL AS SPORTS Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In meeting last month, Sadr City DAC member Mohammad Abdullah Shamikh told PolOff his NGO, The Sport Parliament of Sadr City, is responsible for teaching approximately 5,000 youth in 25 different sports schools about morals and sports. Some of his former students have gone on to represent Iraq in international competitions such as the Olympic Games. He claimed his organization, which has about 2,700 adult members, is free of Sadrist influence and teaches youth to eschew violence. Shamikh asked for Embassy support in his endeavors. END SUMMARY. -------------- Possibly A Force For Good -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Shamikh told PolOff that The Sport Parliament of Sadr City relies on volunteers, most of whom are teachers and university professors by profession, to instruct the students in a variety of different sports. Students come to his schools for two hours sessions with the first hour devoted to lessons on morality. Topics include respecting one's parents and elders, loyalty to one's community, honesty, personal hygiene, and eschewing violence. During the second hour the youth play sports. ¶3. (C) Shamikh said he is able to run his NGO without Sadrist interference because many Sadrists feel that activities such as sports, which are not done in Allah's name, are a waste of time. Sadrists, he said, generally have no love of sports. Shamikh said that by influencing youth to eschew violence and engage in athletics, he is able to convince them not to join violent groups such as the Jaysh al Mahdi. -------------- In Need Of Resources -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Shamikh told PolOff that his organization is in need of resources. He requested Embassy assistance in constructing sports facilities, such as stadiums, providing uniforms and equipment, and instructing the youth. He said that without assistance, the next generation of Sadr City youth may fall under the influence of undesirable elements. MNF-I visited the organization's headquarters and donated soccer equipment as part of the "Send A Smile" program. MNF-I has also expressed interest in helping the Sadr City Sports Parliament pursue avenues to renovate its facilities. To date, over USD 670,000 has been spent on sports-related projects in Baghdad. KHALILZAD