SHIA ENDOWMENT WARNS OF GROWING CIVIL STRIFE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000980 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINS KISL IZ SUBJECT: SHIA ENDOWMENT WARNS OF GROWING CIVIL STRIFE Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Summary: In a March 22 conversation with PolCouns, Shia Endowment official Salah Abd al-Razak said that civil strife is already serious and will get worse if the displacement of Sunni and Shia families does not cease. President Bush's statement that civil war is not likely was wrong, al-Razak said. He also told PolCouns that mosque ownership is a major controversy between the Sunni Arabs and the Shia. Saddam Hussein often denied construction permits for Shia mosques, and some Shia mosques were confiscated by Saddam and converted to Sunni mosques. Thus, there are far more Sunni mosques than Shia mosques in Iraq. According to al-Razak, no Shia Endowment officials have visited the site of the Al-Askariyah Shrine in Samarra because it is too dangerous to go there. He said that while foreign government funds are not desired for the rebuilding of the shrine in Samarra, there are ways the USG could help. End Summary. -------------- Civil Strife Worsening -------------- ¶2. (C) In a March 22 conversation, Shia Endowment official Salah Abd al-Razak told PolCouns that, if the displacement of families continues, there will be even greater civil strife. He said that President Bush's statement that there is no threat of civil war in Iraq went too far. His views, he said, are closer to those of Former Prime Minister (PM) Ayad Allawi in that he feels Iraq is almost in a state of civil war now. ¶3. (C) According to al-Razak, many Shia families from the Abu Ghreib, Nahrawan, Mada'in, Taji, Tarmiya, and Al- Latifya districts around Baghdad have been forced from their homes. He said that the U.S. appears to not care about these people. PolCouns pushed back, arguing that Coalition Forces (CF) were unaware of the extent of the problem because CF patrols have not picked up large groups of people. No official has been able to give the U.S. an adequate count of the number of people affected, he noted. Nonetheless, the CF have increased the number of patrols they are sending out with Iraqi Forces and are working to tighten security throughout the Baghdad area. -------------- Sunni Mosques Outnumber Shia Mosques -------------- ¶4. (C) According to al-Razak, there are 2,500 Shia mosques in Iraq compared to over 7,000 Sunni mosques. Saddam Hussein built mostly Sunni mosques, such as the Nida', Um al-Qura, and Ibn Taymiyah mosques in Baghdad, but the regime made it difficult to build Shia mosques. Most Shia mosques that were built under Saddam were privately funded. Even then, some of these were later confiscated by the regime and converted into Sunni mosques. The Shia Endowment has filed lawsuits to regain possession of mosques, including the Imam Ali and the Imam Ali Raghba Khatoon mosques in Baghdad, and the Great Amarah Mosque in Amarah. -------------- --- Advice on Reconstructing the Al-Askariyah Shrine -------------- --- ¶5. (C) Al-Razak told PolCouns that the Shia Endowment does not want money from foreign governments to fund the reconstruction of the Al-Askiriyah Shrine in Samarra. He said that donations from individuals and corporations would be used instead. He added that Shia Endowment officials have not yet been able to visit Samarra to inspect the site because the area is too dangerous. Al-Razak then asked PolCouns if USG could provide satellite photos to assist the architects and planners who would rebuild the shrine. PolCouns said we would try to be helpful. Al-Razak said that help with secure transport to Samarra from Baghdad for Shia Waqf officials also would be much appreciated. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Al-Razak's work with the Shia Endowment gives him intimate knowledge of the problem of displaced families because mosques are often the organizers of first assistance. The meeting was generally friendly, but al- Razak dropped barbs regularly, reflecting some of the unhappiness with the security situation and perceived BAGHDAD 00000980 002 OF 002 American bias towards Sunnis that we often hear from our Shia contacts. We are checking to see how we might help with his two requests regards the start of the rebuilding of the shrine in Samarra. KHALILZAD