Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT550
2006-05-24 03:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

Islam in America Speaker Ahmed Younis

Tags:  PHUM PINR PGOV TX KY 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ASHGABAT 000550 

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STATE FOR SCA/CEN - PERRY AND IIP/T/SV - BOYD
SENSITIVE

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PINR PGOV TX KY
SUBJECT: Islam in America Speaker Ahmed Younis

ASHGABAT 00000550 001.2 OF 004


Summary and Comment
-------------------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ASHGABAT 000550

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STATE FOR SCA/CEN - PERRY AND IIP/T/SV - BOYD
SENSITIVE

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PINR PGOV TX KY
SUBJECT: Islam in America Speaker Ahmed Younis

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Summary and Comment
--------------


1. (SBU) Turkmenistan was the first destination in the
three-country Central Asian speaking tour of Ahmed
Younis, National Director of the Muslim Public Affairs
Council, a tour which included Kyrgyztan and Tajikistan.
Embassy Ashgabat welcomed Younis, its first Islam in
America speaker, and organized meetings with Turkmen
imams, minority religious groups, USG alumni, civil
society members, and Muslim diplomats, as well as visits
to mosques and Islamic archaeological sites throughout
Turkmenistan from March 25-30. Younis' dynamic
presentations on Islam in America engendered intense
interest and a wide range of questions such as the role
of Muslim women in America, volunteerism in Islam, and
the concept of jihad. Younis was accompanied by a GOTX
minder throughout most of the formal meetings of the
visit. The predominant place of President Niyazov's
spiritual guide, the Ruhnama, over the Koran in mosques
throughout Turkmenistan was an eye-opener to Younis, who
determined to discuss his concerns about the nature of
Islam in Turkmenistan when he returned to the U.S.
Following Younis' visit, the GOTX called in the DCM and
stressed that any criticism of the Ruhnama would be
viewed as an "insult to a sacred text." Comment: Younis
addressed audiences on fundamental religious and
philosophical issues in Islam, new to many in
Turkmenistan. In the coming year, post plans to build on
Younis' visit by organizing workshops on Islam in America
and religious freedom issues throughout Turkmenistan,
benefiting also from periodic visits of regional USAID
religious freedom officer, in our efforts to reach out to
Turkmenistan's majority Muslim population. End Summary
and Comment.

Turkmenabat: Young Imam Stresses "Solidarity" of Faiths
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) In Turkmenabat on March 25, Younis met with
Lebap Welayat's head imam and approximately fifteen "ak
sakal" (white beard or traditional) leaders of local and
regional mosques. Seated at a table outside the
relatively new Turkmenabat city mosque, Younis gave an
engaging presentation about what it means to be an

American Muslim and the need for Muslims everywhere to
better understand Islam in order to rebut the
misappropriation of Islam for violent purposes. He
discussed the daily life of Muslims in America, focusing
on the activities of Muslim youth, and set forth the
ethnic composition of the 6-8 million Muslims in America
(30% Arab, 30% South Asian, 30% African-American, and 10%
converts). He explained that there are no conflicts
between Muslim communities in the United States: they are
100% Muslim, and 100% American.


3. (SBU) Under the watchful eye of our GOTX minder, the
29-year old head imam, a recent state appointee who had
studied theology at Turkmen State University, parroted
obviously prepared government talking points about the
"solidarity" of all denominations and ethnicities in
Turkmenistan while the others remained silent. At one
point, he commented that "our country is not religious"
and that people practice many different religions - even
that there is a fear of religions on the government
level. He said he uses some Arabic at the beginning of
the khutba (sermon),but otherwise uses Turkmen. The
youth look to the elderly on how to behave, and how to
keep the peace. The imam (proudly) noted that President
Niyazov has a policy of sending 180 Turkmen Muslims on
the haj to Mecca each year (Note: the number that will
fit on one Turkmen Air Boeing). When, with Younis'
enthusiastic prodding, one ak sakal started to talk about
his recent experience at the Haj, the head imam cut him
short. Younis expressed surprise that in a culture that
respects age, such a young imam would be selected and
that he would feel comfortable interrupting his elders.
Following the meeting, Younis entered the mosque and

ASHGABAT 00000550 002.2 OF 004


prayed, noticing a Ruhnama as well as a Koran in the
entry.

Mary Mosque: Ruhnama Room and a Scepter
--------------


4. (SBU) In Mary city on March 26, Younis met with the
Mary Welayat's head imam and ten local ak sakals. Again,
the imam controlled most of the conversation. Perhaps
because he was older and less afraid than the 29-year old
Lebap imam, the Mary imam questioned Younis on how Islam
is practiced in America -- including the propriety of a
recent service conducted by a woman, Professor Amina al-
Wodoud, who led a Friday prayer at a university in New
York. (Comment: Younis was surprised that the imam was
aware of this fact, indicating he had been briefed on
such issues. The imam asked the same question of USAID's
religious officer during a September meeting. End
Comment.) Ascending the minbar, the imam proudly held up
his carved wooden scepter (Comment: an unusual accessory
for an imam),and then recited a portion of the required
readings of the Friday prayer in Arabic. The imam also
told Younis that he read the Ruhnama during Friday
prayer. Generally, the imam stuck to the same talking
points on solidarity offered in Lebap. He showed Younis
and embassy officers the large "Ruhnama Room" in the
mosque, but did not show him the library across the way
in which the Koran was located. He did add, however, a
number of positive comments about the president and his
spiritual and social guide, the Ruhnama. Younis recited
a verse from the Koran to the imam and the elders noting
that one should beware of the day of judgement if issues
dear to the heart were not taken seriously, but the imam
did not react. After the meeting, Younis expressed his
outrage at the pin with the president's profile worn by
the imam and the number of pictures of the president in
evidence in the mosque. The imam was overheard by a
local employee quietly asking our GOTX minder if what he
said to Younis was acceptable or whether he had made any
missteps. The GOTX minder applauded the imam's
presentation as reflecting the correct opinion.


5. (SBU) At the American Corner in Mary, Younis
addressed 25 USG alumni on "Faith and Civil Society
Development and Community Service," inspiring them to
develop volunteer activities in their community in
Turkmenistan. This led to a lively discussion on Islam
in Turkmenistan, which revealed a range of views on their
understanding of Islam and its role in their lives.
Younis then visited shrines of two of the companions of
Mohammed, Abu Huraira and Abu Dharr al-Ghafari, sites
rarely visited by tourists. The shrines included marble
sarcophagi inscribed partly with Kufic Arabic script.
The local religious leader responsible for the shrine,
who studied theology in Turkey, spoke perfect Arabic, in
addition to Turkish, Turkmen and Russian. Later, Younis
was hosted at lunch by the director of cultural
preservation in the welayet.

Meeting with DCMs from Islamic Countries
--------------


6. (SBU) At a March 27 DCM-hosted lunch with DCMs and
Charges from the embassies of Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi
Arabia, Libya, and Afghanistan, Younis gave his
impressions of Islam in Turkmenistan. He asked the
others if they too were outraged by the president's
policies, equating the Ruhnama with the Koran at mosque.
Most were in agreement. The Pakistani DCM, however,
suggested that there was little in the book that touched
on religious topics, and therefore was not as much a
violation as Younis suggested. The Pakistani DCM noted
that Turkmen did not begin practicing Islam until 1992,
and he believed that the Turkmen Muslims are not taken
seriously as Muslims by the world Muslim community.
Nevertheless, Younis challenged the DCMs about their
efforts to engage the president and the population on
providing more education on Islam. All demurred,

ASHGABAT 00000550 003.2 OF 004


suggesting that economic and geostrategic issues and
their inability to influence the president made the task
impossible. The Saudi DCM thought that President Niyazov
was using the legitimacy of Islam for political purposes,
to ensure that he would not be overthrown by his people.
Only the Libyan representative claimed that one of his
staff had distributed translated Islamic material
secretly. Both the Libyan and the Saudi said in Arabic,

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which Younis translated after the meeting, that the USG's
policies were partially to blame for the situation in
Turkmenistan. Referring to Georgia, the Saudi DCM
explained that there was a conspiracy to keep the region
weak. The Saudi DCM was positive on what the United
States was doing to pursue human rights. He hoped there
would soon be an opportunity for Saudis to provide
education on Islam. At this point, the Afghan DCM
sardonically commented to a local employee, "My goodness,
I hope not! They [the Saudis] should not be allowed here
nor should they provide such `help' in my country."

Dashoguz: Only one Type of Islam Here
--------------


7. (SBU) In Kunya Urgench near the northern city of
Dashoguz on March 28, Younis met with a local imam who
showed him the historic monuments. During lunch, the two
struck up a conversation in Arabic, much to the obvious
discomfort of the MFA minder. The relatively young imam
had attended theological studies in Ashgabat, Bukhara,
and Tashkent. He told Younis that he wished to be more
of a spiritual leader than the tour guide the government
had made him. When Younis asked him about how many
schools of Islam (Hanafi, Hanbali, etc.) were present in
the region, the imam looked him in the eye and with a
wink and a nod, said, "We have only one type of Islam
here," implying the Niyazov school.


8. (SBU) On March 29, Younis gave a presentation to
specialists from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of National
Security and scholars of the Institute for Democracy and
Human Rights on terrorist financing. He described the
role his organization, the Muslim Public Affairs Council,
played in communicating the interests of Muslim Americans
to the USG and security concerns to the Muslim American
community. Participants eagerly questioned Younis about
his opinion on topics ranging from the Afghani who
converted to Christianity to the number of women working
in his organization. Younis and embassy officers
accompanying him agreed the meeting stimulated one of the
most frank and open discussions of the visit.

Minority Religious Groups: The Pluralism of Protection
-------------- --------------


9. (SBU) Addressing minority religious groups, including
Bahais, Baptists, Evangelists, Greater Grace, the
Catholic Church, and Jehovah's Witnesses on March 29,
Younis discussed the "Pluralism of Protection." He
explained that at the time of Muhammed, Muslims in Mecca
faced reprisals when they began to adopt the theology of
Islam, so moved to Medina, where there were multiple
religious groups. The group of Muslims in power in
Medina developed a constitution that protected the
pluralism of the minority religious communities. If
anyone were to attack one group, it would be the
responsibility of all to protect that group. In this
context, he explained that America is a pluralistic
society including citizens of many faiths. He encouraged
the religious minority representatives not to wait for a
crisis to begin interfaith dialogue, and to base their
cooperation on family values, and on the importance of
protecting the freedom of the entire community. Younis
fended numerous questions from the audience on American
Muslim life, noting that American Muslims do not engage
in demonstrations. He also discussed the Islamic concept
of jihad (struggle),noting its basis in the Shari'a
principles of democratic authority and defense.

ASHGABAT 00000550 004.2 OF 004




10. (SBU) Younis discussed on March 29 the status of
American Muslim women in a meeting with women
representing various NGOs and professions, a session
which led to extensive questions on topics such as the
dress and professions of American Muslim women. Younis
also addressed a group of independent media and local
journalists on "Faith and free speech in regard to the
recent controversy over cartoons with the Prophet
Muhammed's depiction," analyzing the development and
answering a series of questions on the spread of this
controversy throughout Muslim countries.

Comment
--------------


11. (SBU) The GOTX minders throughout Younis' visit
quickly shared their concerns about his interest in the
Ruhnama to the MFA officials. This resulted in calling
in the DCM to alert the USG that the GOTX might not be
receptive of future visitors if Younis publicly
criticized the Ruhnama, "our sacred book." Post has
reported at length the status of Islam in Turkmenistan,
and the role of the Ruhnama in religious life, in the
annual religious freedom report as well as the human
rights report, and throughout post reporting. Younis'
visit spurred discussion on the nature of Islam in many
circles, and we welcome his return and that of other
speakers on religious freedom. End Comment.

BRUSH