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


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