SHIA INDEPENDENT STILL FEARS SUNNI PERSECUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000778

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PINR PINS IZ
SUBJECT: SHIA INDEPENDENT STILL FEARS SUNNI PERSECUTION

Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford for
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) In a March 5 introductory meeting with PolOffs,
Shia Coalition Independent and re-elected Council of
Representatives member Shaikh Khalid Abathar Atiyyah said
that security for Iraq can only be attained through
"inclusion" of the Shia. Atiyyah expressed his concern
about the fear among the Shia that the US has
"abandoned" them in support of the Sunnis. In particular, he
said many Shia believe that the US is manipulating the
security ministries away from the Shia, leaving them
exposed to Sunni persecution. PolOff reminded Atiyyah
that the parties who won seats in the December elections
will negotiate among themselves who will be Ministers of
Interior and Defense. PolOff assured Atiyyah that
the US wants Iraqi parties to form an inclusive, competent
government with credible security ministries that will
protect Iraqis regardless of sect.


2. (C) Atiyyah told PolOffs that the Shia Coalition
Independent bloc had decided to establish a National
Committee of Independents made up of representatives from
all 18 governorates. The Committee members will be from
all walks of life but will have in common their loyalty to
the marja'iya and a commitment to serve Iraq. Atiyyah
expects that Hussein al-Shahristani will be the Committee
leader.


3. (C) COMMENT: On one level, Atiyyah's professed concern
over
the need for Shia "inclusion" in the MOI comes across
as the rhetoric of a sectarian Iraqi politician with
government
formation talks in mind. However, his comments echo the
views of
many Shia who express fears of a "return of the Ba'athists"
and sometimes, incredibly, of USG readiness to see such a
scenario come about. While such fears may seem
irrational, they reflect the reality of a Shia population
still traumatized by decades of totalitarian oppression (for
Atiyah's own story, see below.) As part of our effort to
promote a government of national unity, we must continue to
underscore our commitment to the principle that the Ba'athist
era is gone for good.


4. (C) BIONOTE: In 1966, Shaikh Khalid Abathar Atiyyah
entered Islamic seminary. He said that in 1970 he formed
good relations with the Dawa party. Because of his close
affiliation to Dawa, Atiyyah was arrested in 1972, 1975 and

1977. He said he was persecuted until his escape to Cairo in

1979.
In Cairo he earned a masters degree and doctorate in Arabic
literature. In 1985, he left Cairo for Iran where he
became a university professor and an author. Atiyyah spent
time in Lebanon and traveled to Brazil with an Islamic
Missionary group. From 2000-2003 he moved to England to
study at Oxford. Although he claims to follow the
teachings of Moqtada al-Sadr's late father, Ayatollah
Mohamed Sadiq al-Sadr, Atiyyah noted that he is an
Independent in the Shia Coalition.
KHALILZAD