Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD1369
2006-04-26 19:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
SHIA CLERIC: POOR EDUCATION FEEDS SECTARIANISM
how-toVZCZCXRO5705 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #1369 1161946 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 261946Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4116 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001369
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PGOV PNAT KDEM KISL IZ
SUBJECT: SHIA CLERIC: POOR EDUCATION FEEDS SECTARIANISM
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001369
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PGOV PNAT KDEM KISL IZ
SUBJECT: SHIA CLERIC: POOR EDUCATION FEEDS SECTARIANISM
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) In an April 23 meeting with PolOff, Sheikh Ayad
al-Ekabi, a local Shia imam, deplored the manner in which
religion is misused in Iraqi politics. He attributed the
situation to the low level of education of many Iraqis.
Despite Grand Ayatollah SISTANI's injunction to "follow
their minds," al-Ekabi remarked, many Iraqis turn to the
Marjaiya
for guidance on numerous issues. "Iraqis must be better
educated in order to look beyond their sects and embrace
secular, issues-based politics," he said. To illustrate
this point, Ekabi told PolOff about a conversation he had
with a man who claimed to oppose federalism because he
thought it would lead to public indecency.
2. (C) In such an environment, al-Ekabi argued, the Marjaiya
cannot yet disengage from politics and must continue to
issue statements on many issues to clarify points of
discussion. If they did not, politicians would twist the
words of the Koran to suit their own agendas. Many
politicians claim to be religious, al-Ekabi opined, but
often they are hypocrites. For example, Ekabi said, Grand
Ayatollah SISTANI told Transitional National Assembly
(TNA) members not to accept the 50,000 USD salary they
were offered because the money would be better spent
building Iraq. He said only 18 TNA members followed Grand
Ayatollah SISTANI's wishes, but declined to say which.
3. (C) Many Iraqis, al-Ekabi said, criticized the way
Iraq's Presidency Council and the Council of
Representatives Speaker and two deputies were chosen on
April 22. He said the process harkened back to the days
of Saddam Hussein because each position had only one
candidate campaigning to fill it. Al-Ekabi said that
many Iraqis resented that the candidates were chosen "in
backroom deals." For this reason, he argued, Iraq does
not yet have a national unity government, but merely a
government in which the various sects share power.
PolOff argued back that Iraq's various political groups
should work together in order to negotiate a government
of national unity and build strong democratic institutions.
4. (C) COMMENT: His reductio ad Saddamum rhetoric
notwithstanding, Ekabi appeared open to engage in dialogue
about means to promote democracy and national unity. He
has offered to introduce PolOff to more like-minded
imams. We will follow up on this offer and seek to engage
Ekabi and other Shia clerics on the need for cross sectarian
compromise as a basis for national unity. END COMMENT
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PGOV PNAT KDEM KISL IZ
SUBJECT: SHIA CLERIC: POOR EDUCATION FEEDS SECTARIANISM
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) In an April 23 meeting with PolOff, Sheikh Ayad
al-Ekabi, a local Shia imam, deplored the manner in which
religion is misused in Iraqi politics. He attributed the
situation to the low level of education of many Iraqis.
Despite Grand Ayatollah SISTANI's injunction to "follow
their minds," al-Ekabi remarked, many Iraqis turn to the
Marjaiya
for guidance on numerous issues. "Iraqis must be better
educated in order to look beyond their sects and embrace
secular, issues-based politics," he said. To illustrate
this point, Ekabi told PolOff about a conversation he had
with a man who claimed to oppose federalism because he
thought it would lead to public indecency.
2. (C) In such an environment, al-Ekabi argued, the Marjaiya
cannot yet disengage from politics and must continue to
issue statements on many issues to clarify points of
discussion. If they did not, politicians would twist the
words of the Koran to suit their own agendas. Many
politicians claim to be religious, al-Ekabi opined, but
often they are hypocrites. For example, Ekabi said, Grand
Ayatollah SISTANI told Transitional National Assembly
(TNA) members not to accept the 50,000 USD salary they
were offered because the money would be better spent
building Iraq. He said only 18 TNA members followed Grand
Ayatollah SISTANI's wishes, but declined to say which.
3. (C) Many Iraqis, al-Ekabi said, criticized the way
Iraq's Presidency Council and the Council of
Representatives Speaker and two deputies were chosen on
April 22. He said the process harkened back to the days
of Saddam Hussein because each position had only one
candidate campaigning to fill it. Al-Ekabi said that
many Iraqis resented that the candidates were chosen "in
backroom deals." For this reason, he argued, Iraq does
not yet have a national unity government, but merely a
government in which the various sects share power.
PolOff argued back that Iraq's various political groups
should work together in order to negotiate a government
of national unity and build strong democratic institutions.
4. (C) COMMENT: His reductio ad Saddamum rhetoric
notwithstanding, Ekabi appeared open to engage in dialogue
about means to promote democracy and national unity. He
has offered to introduce PolOff to more like-minded
imams. We will follow up on this offer and seek to engage
Ekabi and other Shia clerics on the need for cross sectarian
compromise as a basis for national unity. END COMMENT
KHALILZAD