Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BISHKEK1795
2006-12-21 11:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:  

PROGRESS FOR KYRGYZ HAJJ PILGRIMS

Tags:  PGOV PREL KIRF KISL PHUM SOCI KG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001795 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KIRF KISL PHUM SOCI KG
SUBJECT: PROGRESS FOR KYRGYZ HAJJ PILGRIMS

BISHKEK 00001795 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001795

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KIRF KISL PHUM SOCI KG
SUBJECT: PROGRESS FOR KYRGYZ HAJJ PILGRIMS

BISHKEK 00001795 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary: The first planeload of Kyrgyz pilgrims
has taken off for Mecca, but the mismanagement of the last
Hajj is still fresh in the minds of the Muslim community
throughout Kyrgyzstan, with some calling for the Chief Mufti
and state officials to resign. Following the January 2006
Hajj fiasco, in which more than 2000 who had paid were unable
to go because the quota was oversold, and other pilgrims who
did go were left stranded due to visa problems and bus
breakdowns, responsibility for managing logistics for this
Hajj was shifted from the official Muslim clergy to the State
Agency for Religious Affairs (SARA). SARA Director Jorobekov
told Poloff that all 4500 Kyrgyz pilgrims would make the
journey by plane, and that those cheated out of the last trip
would be "first on the list" this time; he said he expected
arrangements to be "problem-free." Jorobekov also dismissed
calls for his resignation and for the resignation of the
Mufti on charges of mismanagement and corruption. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) Poor arrangements for the January 2006 Hajj
prompted charges of corruption and mismanagement against the
official Muslim clergy and Chief Mufti Maratali-Adji Jumanov.
More than 2000 pilgrims were not able to make the journey,
even thought they had paid in advance, because organizers
sold seats in excess of Kyrgyzstan's Hajj quota. Most of
those affected never received a refund. In addition,
transportation arrangements -- by bus -- for those who did
secure seats were a disaster, with some pilgrims stranded due
to visa problems and bus breakdowns. In response to the
complaints, Mufti Jumanov admitted there had been problems
and dismissed deputy Mufti Nematulla Jeenbekov in February.


3. (SBU) Following this debacle, responsibility for managing
this next Hajj was shifted to the State Agency for Religious
Affairs (SARA). Poloff met with the SARA director, Jolbors

Jorobekov, to discuss the upcoming Hajj and recent calls for
him and the Mufti to be removed for reasons of corrupt
practices. Jorobekov reported that documents for the 4500
Kyrgyz pilgrims were in order, the Saudi Arabian Consul had
arrived with visas for all participants, and that charter
flights had been scheduled through several Kyrgyz airlines.
"No longer will any of our citizens travel by bus and the
debacle of last year's pilgrimage will not be repeated," said
the director. Even though all pilgrims would fly to Mecca,
the all-inclusive price of $1500 per person would stay the
same as last year, he said. Those who were cheated out of
the trip last time would be "first on the list" this year,
according to Jorobekov. He also confirmed that the division
of slots for the Hajj would be approximately 3500 for the
south (Osh, Jalalabad, Batken) and 1000 for the rest of the
country. This division, he asserted, was carefully
calculated by referencing pilgrimage data from previous years
which showed a pattern of less than a thousand applicants
from the north.

DIRECTOR DISMISSES ACCUSATIONS OF CORRUPTION
--------------


4. (C) Jorobekov explained the new division of
responsibilities for this Hajj. He said that SARA would
handle all logistics, safety, and security for the pilgrims,
while the Muftiate (the official religious authority) was
responsible for providing guidance on rituals, prayers, and
general conduct during the pilgrimage. When asked about
recent charges of corruption against the Mufti and Jorebekov
for monopolizing the Hajj and turning a profit from the
registration process, Jorobekov claimed that the public had
been misinformed and private travel companies were behind the
accusations. He argued that travel companies, hired to
recruit pilgrims, were luring in would-be customers with
advertisements claiming reduced prices ($1300) for the trip
to Mecca. When the pilgrims would show up to register, the

BISHKEK 00001795 002.2 OF 002


firms would charge the official rate with flimsy explanations
regarding the discrepancy. The extra money, some alleged,
was going into the pocket of Jorobekov, a charge that he
adamantly denied.

REMOVE THE MUFTI IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE BETTER
--------------


5. (C) As for the calls for the Mufti's resignation
following allegations of corruption, Jorobekov stated that he
would support the removal of Maratali-Adji Jumanov if he felt
that it would make a difference. However, swapping the
Mufti, he believed, would do little to improve the situation.
"Plus, none of these accusations have been backed up with
hard evidence," said Jorobekov, "and without that, they will
have little influence on the Council of Ulemas." (Note: The
Council of Ulemas, a religious body consisting of thirty-one
religious figures, maintains the authority to remove or
appoint the Mufti. End note.) He said there are five groups
of Muslim activists currently jockeying for power, each of
which claimed to have a candidate for the Muftiate.
Jorobekov felt that the perfect candidate should not only be
well-versed in the Koran and other Islamic texts, but also
speak fluent Arabic and English, as well as be familiar with
the Internet. However, this "super Mufti", he argued, has
yet to come forward.

COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) Although seemingly sincere in his comments, Jorobekov
spoke like a polished politician. The former parliamentarian
sought to distance his office from the Muftiate, as many
fingers pointed at the Mufti's staff after the Hajj scandal
last year. While he did not defend the Mufti, Jorobekov did
discredit the accusations as being unsubstantiated. The
director hoped for a problem-free Hajj this year, which would
possibly quell the demands for his resignation from
disgruntled groups in the Muslim community. END COMMENT.
YOVANOVITCH