Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05FRANKFURT8115
2005-11-09 14:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Frankfurt
Cable title:  

CG Frankfurt Iftaar Bolsters Ties, U.S. Image

Tags:  KISL PGOV PHUM GM 
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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 02 FRANKFURT 008115 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KISL PGOV PHUM GM
SUBJECT: CG Frankfurt Iftaar Bolsters Ties, U.S. Image


Sensitive but unclassified; not for Internet distribution.

REF: Frankfurt 7398 (notal)

SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FRANKFURT 008115

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KISL PGOV PHUM GM
SUBJECT: CG Frankfurt Iftaar Bolsters Ties, U.S. Image


Sensitive but unclassified; not for Internet distribution.

REF: Frankfurt 7398 (notal)

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (U) ConGen Frankfurt recently hosted its first Iftaar
event (featuring U.S. Army Muslim chaplains) during the
Muslim holy month of Ramadan as part of our outreach to the
large Muslim community in Post's district. The many guests
expressed their gratitude and praised USG efforts to reach
out to Muslims, expressing surprise and approval that the
USG hosts Iftaars in Washington and around the world. END
SUMMARY.

Consulate General Hosts First Iftaar
--------------


2. (U) Over sixty guests attended the event, held at Amerika
Haus in Frankfurt. Two U.S. Army Muslim chaplains stationed
in Germany led the call to prayer, the breaking of the fast,
and the prayers that marked the opening of the event.
Guests included Turkish business community representatives
as well as members of Muslim cultural and religious groups,
consular corps representatives from Turkey, Indonesia,
Morocco, and Egypt, and German officials working on
integration issues. The guests were predominantly male, but
a half-dozen Muslim women also attended. Following the
prayers, Consulate representatives gave opening remarks
including a German translation of President Bush's Ramadan
message.

"Germany Has A Lot to Learn From You"
--------------


3. (SBU) A leading member of the Islamische
Religionsgemeinschaft Hessen (IRH, the largest Muslim
organization in the German state of Hessen) told Poloff that
the German government could learn a great deal from the
United States with regards to Muslim outreach, citing
President Bush's annual Iftaar at the White House as an
important example of U.S. efforts to reach out to the Muslim
community. Another interlocutor called the United States a
model of religious freedom since Muslims are allowed to
worship freely, despite the events of September 11. Another
guest opined that Germans want to reach out to Muslims but
feel awkward ("Beruehrungsangst").

"Thanks for Thinking of Us"
--------------


4. (U) The overwhelming sentiment from the guests was
gratitude for being able to attend an American-sponsored
Muslim event. For many, this was the first opportunity to
mingle with official Americans. Some remarked that the
invitation provided the Muslim community a measure of
legitimacy and acceptance that they often do not receive
from German society. Guests also noted that since the
attacks of September 11, many Muslims in this area feel they
are branded as extremists and/or terrorists.

"Muslims in the U.S. Army?"
--------------


5. (U) The Iftaar also revealed and countered many
participant pre-conceptions about the U.S. (some expressed
surprise that Muslims were allowed in the U.S. military, let
alone as chaplains). A highlight of the evening was the
crowd's response (a combination of awe, surprise, respect,
and appreciation) to the chaplains' call to prayer and
religious ceremony (all in Arabic). Many commented that
this type of event helps build bridges of understanding and
cooperation. During the Iftaar meal that followed, the
chaplains were treated like rock stars with guests jostling
to line up to meet them and be photographed with them. We
hope to invite U.S. military imams for future events that
involve exchange of ideas on Muslim life in America and
related topics. (Note: A number of guests also exchanged
contact information with the chaplains, suggesting positive
momentum in that community).


Muslim Community Concerns
--------------


6. (SBU) The evening also provided insights into the Muslim
community's concerns. IRH representatives vented
frustration over their inclusion in the latest report by the
state Office for the Protection of the Constitution (LfV,
the German law enforcement organization which tracks
domestic extremists),dismissing allegations of
fundamentalism and unfair treatment of women as baseless.
Other guests expressed unease over a Christian Democratic-
led government in Berlin and possible negative repercussions
for Muslims throughout Germany. Some painted Christian
Democrat (CDU) representatives as distrustful of Muslims and
said a "grand coalition" might enact legislation curbing
freedom and damaging the integration process. As evidence,
they pointed to the CDU-led Hesse government's recent
dragnet raids in Muslim neighborhoods (reftel),and the
CDU's call for Turkey to become a "privileged partner" in
the EU rather than a full member.

COMMENT
--------------


7. (U) The success of this event has reinforced and expanded
ties with Muslim contacts (several of the group also
attended the open house celebration at the new Consulate
General building on October 31 a few days later). Guests
expressed enthusiasm about making our Iftaar an annual
event. END COMMENT.


8. (U) This cable has been cleared by Embassy Berlin.

PASI