Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BASRAH46
2006-04-05 15:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
REO Basrah
Cable title:
FOLLOWING VIOLENCE, SUNNI MOSQUES IN BASRAH CLOSE
how-toVZCZCXRO3129 OO RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHBC #0046 0951542 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 051542Z APR 06 FM REO BASRAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0290 INFO RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RUEHBC/REO BASRAH 0308
UNCLAS BASRAH 000046
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KISL IZ
SUBJECT: FOLLOWING VIOLENCE, SUNNI MOSQUES IN BASRAH CLOSE
UNCLAS BASRAH 000046
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KISL IZ
SUBJECT: FOLLOWING VIOLENCE, SUNNI MOSQUES IN BASRAH CLOSE
1. (SBU) On April 5, the Basrah branch of the Sunni Endowment
issued an official statement (Administrative Notice No. 931)
addressed to all Sunni imams and clerics in Basrah to close all
Sunni mosques for two days because of the rising sectarian
violence in the city. Sunni mosques are to be closed on
Wednesday, April 5, and Thursday, April 6, and reopen on April
7. To the best of our knowledge, all Sunni mosques have
complied with this request and have been closed all day on April
5. This is the first time that Sunni mosques have closed in
Basrah.
2. (SBU) An unofficial translation of the text of the Diwan
Sunni Endowment statement is as follows:
"It has been decided to close mosques on Wednesday and Thursday.
Only the call for prayers will be announced; however, no one
will pray inside the mosques. This is in protest to the
shedding of blood of our innocent citizens in our province.
Please comply. Whoever violates this announcement will be held
accountable."
Signed, Dr. Abid Al Kareem Al Khazraji, Southern Region Director
of the Sunni Endowment
3. (SBU) This statement follows a rash of high-profile Sunni
murders in Basrah that have been reported in local media: on
April 4, Sadah Aziz, a Sunni professor was kidnapped and killed;
on April 3, a family of six Sunnis, including a four year-old
boy, were gunned down in a central marketplace; also on April 3,
a Sunni imam was shot in his house; and on March 30, a female
Sunni lawyer was shot on the streets of Basrah.
GROSS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KISL IZ
SUBJECT: FOLLOWING VIOLENCE, SUNNI MOSQUES IN BASRAH CLOSE
1. (SBU) On April 5, the Basrah branch of the Sunni Endowment
issued an official statement (Administrative Notice No. 931)
addressed to all Sunni imams and clerics in Basrah to close all
Sunni mosques for two days because of the rising sectarian
violence in the city. Sunni mosques are to be closed on
Wednesday, April 5, and Thursday, April 6, and reopen on April
7. To the best of our knowledge, all Sunni mosques have
complied with this request and have been closed all day on April
5. This is the first time that Sunni mosques have closed in
Basrah.
2. (SBU) An unofficial translation of the text of the Diwan
Sunni Endowment statement is as follows:
"It has been decided to close mosques on Wednesday and Thursday.
Only the call for prayers will be announced; however, no one
will pray inside the mosques. This is in protest to the
shedding of blood of our innocent citizens in our province.
Please comply. Whoever violates this announcement will be held
accountable."
Signed, Dr. Abid Al Kareem Al Khazraji, Southern Region Director
of the Sunni Endowment
3. (SBU) This statement follows a rash of high-profile Sunni
murders in Basrah that have been reported in local media: on
April 4, Sadah Aziz, a Sunni professor was kidnapped and killed;
on April 3, a family of six Sunnis, including a four year-old
boy, were gunned down in a central marketplace; also on April 3,
a Sunni imam was shot in his house; and on March 30, a female
Sunni lawyer was shot on the streets of Basrah.
GROSS