Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BISHKEK1496
2006-10-25 02:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
SCA DAS Feigenbaum Visit to Kyrgyzstan: Muslim
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UNCLAS BISHKEK 001496
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO KG
SUBJECT: SCA DAS Feigenbaum Visit to Kyrgyzstan: Muslim
Outreach
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
UNCLAS BISHKEK 001496
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO KG
SUBJECT: SCA DAS Feigenbaum Visit to Kyrgyzstan: Muslim
Outreach
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
1. (U) SCA DAS Feigenbaum and the Ambassador welcomed the
Chief Mufti of Kyrgyzstan, his deputy, the Human Rights
Ombudsman, and a group of 40 representatives of civil and
religious society to the October 17 dinner in Bishkek. This
year, Embassy Bishkek held two Iftaar dinners, one in the
north and one in the south.
2. (SBU) The dinner was well received, and both the Mufti
and the Ombudsman joined the Ambassador and Feigenbaum in
making welcoming remarks. The Mufti commented that he was
impressed by how much attention the United States was
placing on improving relations with the Muslim community.
The Mufti said that the United States held Iftaars in the
two primary regions of Kyrgyzstan and noted this was
something his own government had yet to do.
3. (SBU) During a separate meeting October 17 with Jolbors
Jorobekov, the director of the State Agency for Religious
Affairs (SARA),DAS Feigenbaum inquired about the current
role of religion in Kyrgyzstan. Jorobekov stated that after
becoming independent fifteen years ago, his country has
witnessed a steady influx of various Christian and Muslim
sects, some with clear intentions to proselytize and convert
the population. He asserted that, although these actions
are legal and not the cause of social tension in the larger
cities of the country where the population is ethnically
mixed, Christians attempting to convert Muslims in the
mountainous villages draw sharp criticism from members of
the community. Jorobekov claimed to have received many
complaints from rural communities and, fearing tensions
might escalate into violence, has acted as intermediary
between the religious groups and disgruntled villagers. He
stated that, while defending the rights of all religions to
practice freely is one of his many roles as director of
SARA, convincing Christian missionaries to be respectful and
consider the mentality of rural community members has been
the most challenging.
4. (SBU) DAS Feigenbaum inquired about Kyrgyz plans to
introduce a new law on religion and inquired why it was
necessary. Jorobekov, who is pushing for a new law
according to the more restrictive model, admitted a law
should not be necessary and was unable to explain the
necessity convincingly.
Yovanovitch
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO KG
SUBJECT: SCA DAS Feigenbaum Visit to Kyrgyzstan: Muslim
Outreach
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
1. (U) SCA DAS Feigenbaum and the Ambassador welcomed the
Chief Mufti of Kyrgyzstan, his deputy, the Human Rights
Ombudsman, and a group of 40 representatives of civil and
religious society to the October 17 dinner in Bishkek. This
year, Embassy Bishkek held two Iftaar dinners, one in the
north and one in the south.
2. (SBU) The dinner was well received, and both the Mufti
and the Ombudsman joined the Ambassador and Feigenbaum in
making welcoming remarks. The Mufti commented that he was
impressed by how much attention the United States was
placing on improving relations with the Muslim community.
The Mufti said that the United States held Iftaars in the
two primary regions of Kyrgyzstan and noted this was
something his own government had yet to do.
3. (SBU) During a separate meeting October 17 with Jolbors
Jorobekov, the director of the State Agency for Religious
Affairs (SARA),DAS Feigenbaum inquired about the current
role of religion in Kyrgyzstan. Jorobekov stated that after
becoming independent fifteen years ago, his country has
witnessed a steady influx of various Christian and Muslim
sects, some with clear intentions to proselytize and convert
the population. He asserted that, although these actions
are legal and not the cause of social tension in the larger
cities of the country where the population is ethnically
mixed, Christians attempting to convert Muslims in the
mountainous villages draw sharp criticism from members of
the community. Jorobekov claimed to have received many
complaints from rural communities and, fearing tensions
might escalate into violence, has acted as intermediary
between the religious groups and disgruntled villagers. He
stated that, while defending the rights of all religions to
practice freely is one of his many roles as director of
SARA, convincing Christian missionaries to be respectful and
consider the mentality of rural community members has been
the most challenging.
4. (SBU) DAS Feigenbaum inquired about Kyrgyz plans to
introduce a new law on religion and inquired why it was
necessary. Jorobekov, who is pushing for a new law
according to the more restrictive model, admitted a law
should not be necessary and was unable to explain the
necessity convincingly.
Yovanovitch