IRPT LEADER SAYS TAJIKS SHOULD LOOK TO WEST TO LEARN ABOUT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000629 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR R, S/P, SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL/IRF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KIRF TI SUBJECT: IRPT LEADER SAYS TAJIKS SHOULD LOOK TO WEST TO LEARN ABOUT ISLAM, MORE EXCHANGES NEEDED DUSHANBE 00000629 001.2 OF 002 Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. Not for public Internet. ¶1. (SBU) Muhiddin Kabiri, Deputy Chairman of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) suggested that Tajiks need to travel to the West to learn about Islam in an April 6 meeting with U.S. Speaker Ahmed Younis and PolOff. Younis, the National Director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Washington, DC, visited Dushanbe from April 5-8 to meet with students, journalists, religious leaders, academics, and political strategists (septel). ¶2. (SBU) Kabiri warned of the poor state of Islamic education in Tajikistan. Students in madrassas study outdated texts and interpretations of Islam dating back to the ninth century. In Kabiri's opinion, the version of Islam preached in Tajikistan is unfit for modern society. He also noted that Islamic teachers are inadequately trained. Scholars returning to Tajikistan from countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran preach versions of Islam that do not fit with Central Asia's culture. He advocated a moderate Islamic voice and feared that in the current void people will gravitate toward extremism. ¶3. (SBU) After many trips to Europe, Kabiri concluded Tajik students should be educated in Western Europe and the United States to learn about Islam's role in modern society. Kabiri acknowledged he did not know much about Muslim life in America, but he knew that learning from a Western, more tolerant model would be better for the people of Tajikistan than the conservative, exclusionary Islam of Saudi Arabia and other countries. Kabiri mentioned he had already begun discussions with the British Embassy about starting exchange programs between the UK and Tajikistan. ¶4. (SBU) Kabiri often commented on how impressed he was with the European model of pluralism. Younis explained the differences between Muslim identity in Europe and in the United States and how that has colored Muslims' roles in society. Younis discussed sources of Muslim identity, noting that Muslims in Europe have not fully integrated, whereas in the United States, all are considered American. ¶5. (SBU) Younis was impressed by Kabiri, particularly his tolerant and inclusive definition of what it means to be Muslim. He told PolOff he had never encountered a moderate Islamic political leader like Kabiri outside of the United States and Europe. Younis encouraged the Embassy to continue to engage Kabiri and expose him more to the United States. (NOTE: In addition to European visits, Kabiri recently returned from a speaking engagement at Columbia University, and was also in the United States during the 2004 Presidential Election as an election observer. END NOTE.) Younis later expressed concern about Kabiri's interest in European Islam, noting the integration has not been as successful as American Islam, a better model for Tajikistan to follow in Younis' view. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: Engaging Tajikistan's religious leaders and Islamic scholars is a critical part of Post's mission to promote mutual understanding. Though we continue to identify and send religious leaders through IV and IVLP programs, and students through our education exchange programs, there exists a serious need for more opportunities. The battle for Islamic identity in Tajikistan is taking place under the surface, and it is in all of our best interests that progressive, moderate Islam wins. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: Younis stressed to EmbOffs the impact and importance of our exchange opportunities to influence this outcome, and pledged that the Muslim Public Affairs Council would do its part in the United States to increase its contact and assistance to Central Asia's Muslims. From our side, it is DUSHANBE 00000629 002.2 OF 002 imperative to send more Islamic leaders to the United States on every current exchange program, increase the number of participants overall, and think of new programs and ways of getting additional religious leaders to the United States. If we use these programs to the fullest, we can win the war for moderate Islamic identity in Tajikistan. END COMMENT. HOAGLAND