MODERATE IMAMS IN BASRAH

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BASRAH 000109

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/20/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER IZ
SUBJECT: MODERATE IMAMS IN BASRAH

REF: (A) BASRAH 035 (B) BASRAH 043 (C) BASRAH 049

BASRAH 00000109 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Kenneth E. Gross, Regional Coordinator, Basrah
Regional Embassy Office, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)





1. (S) Summary: During the past two months the Regional
Embassy Office (REO) has met regularly with moderate Shia and
Sunni clerics to follow their efforts with regards to the
current security situation in Basrah. Independent and moderate,
these clerics currently represent the best alternative to
counteract the influence of religious hardliners and the
political and tribal leaders who are the sources of violence in
the city. However, lacking the support of a militia, tribe or
political party, these moderate clerics have been limited to the
sidelines and unable to influence current events. Realizing
this problem they may band together to form a political party
and pool their available resources and speak with a unified,
powerful voice for change in Basrah. End Summary.

Who are they?
--------------


2. (S) The moderate Shia and Sunni clerics are well known
contacts of the REO. Sheik Khalid al-Mulla, a prominent Sunni
imam, has been an outspoken critic of the Sunni insurgency and
sectarian violence (see Ref A). He also has been a steadfast
supporter of the Coalition Forces, advocating cooperation and
dialogue. Basrah Provincial Council (BPC) member and Shia
cleric, Sayed Bahaa Jamal al-Deen, mentioned to the Deputy
Regional Coordinator (DRC) on June 5 that Sheik Khalid has come
under a lot of pressure from the Sunni community for his message
of tolerance and cooperation. Sheik Khalid, on the other hand,
has pointed to his Shia colleagues, Sayed Bahaa Jamal al-Deen
and Sayed Abdul Ali al-Musawi, as the ones who can effectively
communicate that message to the Shia community.


3. (S) Provincial Council member Sayed Bahaa Jamal al-Deen is
well respected by a wide range of leaders in Basrah (see Ref B).
His moderate tone and his work with the Basrah community have
given him a good reputation among the local population. Sayed
Bahaa founded a local NGO, the Al Hadi Charitable Association,
that focuses on community service projects such as neighborhood
trash pick up and renovating local schools. Basrah Provincial
Council (BPC) member Dr. Hamid al-Thalmi (Iraqi National Accord)
commented that Sayed Bahaa would make a good governor for Basrah
because he is independent and well respected. However, he added
that Sayed Bahaa would never become governor since he does not
have the backing of a political party. Sayed Bahaa was
similarly dismissed as irrelevant by Sayed Youssef, the leader
of Thar Allah, who said that his lack of affiliation with a
political party rendered him powerless.


4. (S) Sayed Abdul Ali al-Musawi is the son of the one of the
most prominent and wealthiest Shia imams in Basrah, Sayed Ali
al-Musawi (see Ref C). He is the "CEO" behind the al-Musawi
Group, a business conglomerate that encompasses nine different
companies as various as construction, computers, agricultural,
fuel and printing. Sayed Abdul Ali is open in his approach to
both the Sunni and Christian communities and is not actively
engaged in local politics although he maintains friendly
relations with most BPC members including the Governor.

What they are planning to do
--------------


5. (S) In the meeting on June 5, Sayed Bahaa hinted that he
would explore the possibility of organizing a political party
that would include Sheik Khalid, Sayed Abdul Ali al-Musawi and
prominent tribal sheiks such as Sheik Mansour al-Kanaan (see Ref
C). Sheik Mansoor, a former BPC member, is the leader of the Al
Kanaan tribe, one of the largest tribes in Basrah. The DRC
confirmed the possible formation of this new political party in
a June 11 meeting with Dr. Abdul Jabbar H. Humadi, the Director
of the Al Hadi Charitable Association, the NGO founded by Sayed
Bahaa. Dr. Abdul Jabbar said that the above moderate clerics
have reached out to nine tribal leaders and an agreement had
been reached to form a new political party called, "The
Independent Gathering to Save Basrah." In addition to Sheik
Mansour, the party includes Sheik Muzahim of the Al Timimi
tribe, another large and very influential tribe in Basrah.
According to Dr. Abdul Jabbar, a number of tribal leaders have
served as senior officers in the Iraqi Army and therefore have
considerable experience in managing a large organization and
groups of people.


6. (S) Dr. Abdul Jabbar listed the three main goals of the
nascent party: the reformation of the Iraqi Police Service; a
total ban on carrying weapons in public; and the disbanding of

BASRAH 00000109 002.2 OF 002


all militias. He added that the members of the party intend to
take control of the BPC during the next provincial elections and
asked that news of this new party be kept secret. Dr. Abdul
Jabbar feared that its members would become targets of
assassination if other political parties became aware of its
formation. Finally, Dr. Abdul Jabbar pointed out that the party
would be open to everyone, Shia, Sunni and Christian, adding
that "even Jews would be welcomed."


7. (S) Comment: Although respected, the moderate clerics in
Basrah have been dismissed in the past as being ineffective and
powerless because they lacked a militia or political party.
However, if they unite and organize a new political party, they
could be a force to be reckoned with in the next provincial
elections. Sayed Bahaa and Sheik Khalid would effectively
communicate the party's message with Sayed Abdul Ali providing
the funding and the tribal leaders the organization and the
loyalty of large numbers of followers. End Comment.
GROSS