Islam in America Speaker Ahmed Younis

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ASHGABAT 000550 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN - PERRY AND IIP/T/SV - BOYD SENSITIVE SIPDIS 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 -------------- ¶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, SIPDIS 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