THE END OF AN ERA FOR TAJIKISTAN'S ISLAMIC PARTY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001549

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KISL TI
SUBJECT: THE END OF AN ERA FOR TAJIKISTAN'S ISLAMIC PARTY

REF: DUSHANBE 1524

DUSHANBE 00001549 001.2 OF 002



1. SUMMARY: Chargi d'Affaires attended Said Abdullo Nuri's
funeral held in Dushanbe August 10. Nuri, the Chairman of the
Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) passed away
August 9 (reftel) after a long battle with cancer. The funeral
was well-attended by prominent officials and leaders, reflecting
Nuri's influential position and his critical role in
Tajikistan's history. During Tajikistan's Civil War he led the
United Tajik Opposition's fight against the residual communist
government, but also ended the war by signing the Tajik National
Peace Accord in 1997. Despite the high profile of his deputy
Muhiddin Kabiri, Nuri's death creates uncertainty about his
successor and the IRPT's leadership. END SUMMARY.


2. An entire city block was cordoned off as thousands of people
waited in line to pay their respects to Nuri's family members
and IRPT officials. Religious leaders, heads of international
organizations, senior government officials including the mayor
of Dushanbe, several ministers, officials from the President's
Administration and the Head of the National Bank all attended
the funeral. President Rahmonov was in India on an official
visit, but he is expected to pay his respects to the IRPT and
Nuri's family upon his return. Rahmonov visited Nuri several
times while he was ill with cancer and the two exchanged
emotional public toasts at the June 28 Tajikistan Day of Unity
in Garm.


3. The family and Party documented the funeral for their own
records. Prominent figures were requested to say a few words on
camera and Chargi d'Affaires expressed his sincere condolences
and remarked that Tajikistan has lost an important figure who
played a vital role in the reconciliation process after the
country's civil war. Media organizations were also present,
including the BBC. Local media organizations have published
several articles about Nuri's death, all respectful of Nuri and
his pivotal roles in the civil war and peace process.


4. Even after death, controversy around Nuri persisted. Media
reports state that according to his will, Nuri wanted to be
buried next to Muhammadjon Rustamov, also known as Mawlawi
Hindustani who was Nuri's mentor. However, Embassy sources tell
PolOff that the government would not permit Nuri to be buried in
that location. In Nuri's final days the government suggested
that his family take him back to the Tavildara district where he
was born and bury him there. Nuri's family then suggested they
should bury him at his home in Dushanbe. Authorities rejected
this idea as well and said that his family should bury him in a
public Dushanbe cemetery.


5. The IRPT has not yet named a new party chairman. Although
Muhiddin Kabiri has been acting as the de facto chairman during
Nuri's frequent trips abroad for medical treatment in Iran or
Germany, he has not expressed interest becoming Chairman.


6. COMMENT: Whoever the party elects as their new chairman
will have a large legacy to fill, but also the opportunity to
shape Tajikistan's future, as the IRPT is seen as the second
most influential party after the president's own party, the
People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan. As Central Asia's only
legal Islamic political party, the IRPT needs to choose its next
leader carefully. END COMMENT.


7. BIO NOTE: Said Abdullo Nuri was born on March 15, 1947 in
the Oshtiyon village of the Tavildara district. Nuri graduated
from secondary school in 1964 and received religious education
from his father. Nuri has a long history of government
opposition. In 1973 he was arrested by Soviet authorities for
distributing Islamic literature. He also helped establish a
youth group in 1974 called the Islamic Revivial. In 1987 he was
arrested for possession of drugs and sent to Siberia for 1.5
years. After being released from prison, in 1988, he worked as
the chief editor of the newspaper "Minbari Islom" (Tribune of
Islam).


8. In 1990 he helped establish the Islamic Renaissance Party of
Tajikistan. During the Tajik civil war from 1992-1997 he led
the United Tajik Opposition in exile from Afghanistan against

DUSHANBE 00001549 002.2 OF 002


the sitting government led by communist apparatchiks. In 1997,
Nuri signed the Tajik National Peace Accord with President
Rahmonov, bringing the bloody civil war to a close and helping
to form a coalition government. In 1999, the IRPT unanimously
elected Nuri as its Chairman. For the past two years, Nuri had
been suffering from stomach cancer.
HUSHEK