TAJIK GOVT CORRUPTS HAJJ, MAINTAINS TIGHT CONTROL OVER

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000053 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KISL KIRF TI SUBJECT: TAJIK GOVT CORRUPTS HAJJ, MAINTAINS TIGHT CONTROL OVER RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: On December 23, the first of more than 20 planeloads of Tajik hajjis, Muslim pilgrims journeying to Mecca, left Dushanbe for Saudi Arabia. These hajjis are the lucky, well-connected or wealthy few. For the majority of Tajiks, government restrictions, corruption and expensive bribes prohibit them from completing this religious objective. END SUMMARY. COMMITTEE ON RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS CONTROLS HAJJ ¶2. (U) Although Tajikistan is a secular state, the State Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) maintains control over the hajj and essentially dictates who can go on the hajj. The CRA only permitted 3,450 people to go on the 2006 hajj, even though Tajiksitan's self-imposed quota is 3,500 and is far below Saudi Arabia's 6,000 limit. In a meeting with PolOff January 6, Tohir Rashidov, Deputy Chairman of the CRA admitted at least an additional one thousand people applied to go on the hajj but were rejected for medical and "technical" reasons. In 2005, 5,000 Tajiks were permitted to go on the hajj. Recent public editorials and embassy sources speculate the decrease in hajjis is because the government fears extremism and wants to limit those seeking religion abroad. ¶3. (U) In 2005, the CRA took over full control of organizing hajj trips from local tour operators, citing consideration for the safety of hajjis. Full control over hajj trips also brings in greater revenue for the state. Hajjis must travel to Mecca by air on Tajikistan State Airlines and on government-sanctioned trips, whereas in previous years they were able to travel by land in their own vehicles. Today, Tajiks who wish to make the Hajj journey must register with the CRA by depositing $2,300 for air tickets, visas, accommodations, guidebooks and medical services. This is the most expensive Hajj trip to date. ANOTHER VENUE FOR CORRUPTION ¶4. (U) Quotas and imposed state restrictions create room for bribes and bureaucratic corruption. The CRA's interpretation of Saudi Arabia's regulations restricts the pool of hajj applications and makes travel prohibitive for some. Hajjis must be at least 18 years old, certify they are in good health, and may only travel once every five years; however, medical certificates can be bought and a hajji can travel more than once in five years if he pays a bribe. A recent news article reports some hajjis, who have not been able to obtain hajj permits in Tajikistan, travel to Kyrgyzstan and purchase Kyrgyz passports and hajj permits. Although the CRA claims it does not impose quotas for each district, the public understands quotas exist. Tajiks must register to go on the hajj at their local culture department. It is common for officials to tell an applicant the quota has been filled, but after forking out an extra $100 or so, the applicant can miraculously secure a spot. ¶5. (SBU) Government restrictions have turned the hajj into a cottage industry. Travel companies, serving as interlocutors and hajj organizers are all forced to participate in the government network of bribery. Independent journalist, Sadullo Muso told Embassy sources that the Head of the Sughd Region Committee on Religious Affairs, Odilkhon Aliev, fled to Russia. One of the most corrupt Sughd region officials, Aliev allegedly bribed $67,000 from hajj pilgrims and hajj tour operators. Muso speculated that Aliev bribed other government officials to assist in his escape to Russia. Similarly, the Tajik newspaper, Najot alleged Murodullo Davlatov, Chairman of the CRA of bribing one million dollars from hajjis. Despite calls for investigation, the Prosecutor General's Office has not responded. ¶6. (SBU) In a meeting with PolOff January 6, Tohir Rashidov, Deputy Chairman of the CRA, admitted some corruption allegations are true, but "the government cannot completely monitor all bureaucrats' moral behavior." He addressed complaints hajjis had with poor accommodations and travel arrangements by excusing the CRA's lack of experience. This is the first year the CRA has control over Tajikistan's hajj program and Rashidov is confident that in the future, the Committee will be able to make future hajj journeys smoother. ¶7. (U) Although 97% of the population is nominally Muslim, given its Soviet past, most Tajiks are not devout. However, Rashidov predicts that the number of Tajiks who wish to go on the hajj will increase over the next few years. ¶8. (SBU) COMMENT: Corruption, bribery and government restrictions sour the hajj experience for Tajik devout Muslims. The government's complacency towards corruption and self-imposed restrictions by the Tajik government, not Saudi Arabia, show the government is purposefully limiting the people's religious freedom. During PolOff's meeting with Rashidov, he chided poverty- stricken Tajiks for wasting their money on religious ceremonies and donations. If Rashidov's comments reflect the government's attitude towards religion, the CRA will likely continue to control religious activities in an attempt to prevent extremism. Ironically, government attempts to marginalize Islam in Tajikistan may end with the opposite effect. END COMMENT. ARMBRUSTER NNNN