Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE766
2006-04-24 11:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:
PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS ISLAM, DRAFT
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000766
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, ECA, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL KISL KIRF KPAO IR TI
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS ISLAM, DRAFT
RELIGION LAW, IRANIAN HIJAB
REF: A. A) DUSHANBE 0720
B. B) DUSHANBE 0670
DUSHANBE 00000766 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000766
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, ECA, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL KISL KIRF KPAO IR TI
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS ISLAM, DRAFT
RELIGION LAW, IRANIAN HIJAB
REF: A. A) DUSHANBE 0720
B. B) DUSHANBE 0670
DUSHANBE 00000766 001.2 OF 002
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly.
Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY. The Ambassador met with Karomatullo Olimov,
Presidential Advisor on Social Development and Public Contacts,
April 21 at Olimov's request for a wide-ranging discussion of
Islam and the role of religion in a secular state. The meeting
followed the visit of U.S. Speaker Ahmed Younis (ref B),and
provided an excellent opportunity to discuss Islam and Tajik
government policy. When asked about the government's new draft
law on religion, Olimov firmly stated he saw no need to fix
something that wasn't broken. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) Olimov asked for the Ambassador's advice how to engage
Islam in secular Tajikistan. He reminded the Ambassador of the
hearty applause the United States received during President
Rahmonov's April 20 speech to parliament, and reiterated that
Tajiks respect the work and the opinion of the United States and
its Ambassador on a variety of issues. He said he had been
impressed by Ahmed Younis' statements that moderate Islam plays
a constructive role with government and society in America. He
said he wished there had been time in Younis' schedule for a
long conversation with him about his experience in the United
States and his impressions of Tajikistan.
4. (SBU) The Ambassador told Olimov that Tajikistan had been
the highlight of Younis' trip to Central Asia that had also
included stops in Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. He recounted
Younis's impression that he had found the most sophisticated
understanding of Islam in Tajikistan, and that his experience
leading Friday prayers at the central mosque in Dushanbe had
been the highlight of his entire trip.
5. (SBU) When Olimov asked for an opinion on how to confront
extremism, the Ambassador noted a paradox: strong government
pressure to prevent extremism too often has the opposite effect
and causes it to grow. The Ambassador suggested engaging to the
extent possible those the government suspects of extremism. He
acknowledged this is not easy and not always successful, but is
better than throwing people in prison for their beliefs, no
matter how strongly we disagree with those beliefs. He noted
that USAID, at the request of the President's Strategic Research
Center, will help facilitate a regional conference in Dushanbe
early in June on the role of traditional Islam in Central Asian
society.
6. (SBU) When asked his opinion on the new draft law on
religious institutions proposed by the Committee on Religious
Affairs (ref A),Olimov replied firmly that he did not see the
need for a new law on religion and religious institutions. He
added, "What's wrong with the current law? What problems has it
caused?" The Ambassador agreed completely, and suggested that
the least government regulation of religious life is often the
best.
7. (SBU) In discussing the Tajik government's ban on hijabs in
public schools, Olimov distinguished between traditional Tajik
headscarves and Iranian-style hijabs. He defended the
government's October 2005 decision to ban true hijab in Tajik
schools. He said the government debated the issue thoroughly,
and concluded a secular society could not approve
foreign-inspired religious symbols in public education
facilities. He reminded the Ambassador that the headscarves
seen on city streets and in Tajik villages are considered more
traditional and cultural than religious, and firmly
DUSHANBE 00000766 002.2 OF 002
distinguished them from Iranian-inspired hijabs.
8. (SBU) COMMENT. This meeting was another dividend of Ahmed
Younis's successful visit to Tajikistan, and illustrates once
again the great value of public diplomacy speakers. Olimov's
negative comments on the draft religion law suggest it may not
have full Presidential support. His emphasis that the hijab is
an Iranian import that has to be banned once again illustrates
the Tajik government's continuing caution about Iran - economic
investment, yes; religion and politics, no. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, ECA, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL KISL KIRF KPAO IR TI
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS ISLAM, DRAFT
RELIGION LAW, IRANIAN HIJAB
REF: A. A) DUSHANBE 0720
B. B) DUSHANBE 0670
DUSHANBE 00000766 001.2 OF 002
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly.
Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY. The Ambassador met with Karomatullo Olimov,
Presidential Advisor on Social Development and Public Contacts,
April 21 at Olimov's request for a wide-ranging discussion of
Islam and the role of religion in a secular state. The meeting
followed the visit of U.S. Speaker Ahmed Younis (ref B),and
provided an excellent opportunity to discuss Islam and Tajik
government policy. When asked about the government's new draft
law on religion, Olimov firmly stated he saw no need to fix
something that wasn't broken. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) Olimov asked for the Ambassador's advice how to engage
Islam in secular Tajikistan. He reminded the Ambassador of the
hearty applause the United States received during President
Rahmonov's April 20 speech to parliament, and reiterated that
Tajiks respect the work and the opinion of the United States and
its Ambassador on a variety of issues. He said he had been
impressed by Ahmed Younis' statements that moderate Islam plays
a constructive role with government and society in America. He
said he wished there had been time in Younis' schedule for a
long conversation with him about his experience in the United
States and his impressions of Tajikistan.
4. (SBU) The Ambassador told Olimov that Tajikistan had been
the highlight of Younis' trip to Central Asia that had also
included stops in Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. He recounted
Younis's impression that he had found the most sophisticated
understanding of Islam in Tajikistan, and that his experience
leading Friday prayers at the central mosque in Dushanbe had
been the highlight of his entire trip.
5. (SBU) When Olimov asked for an opinion on how to confront
extremism, the Ambassador noted a paradox: strong government
pressure to prevent extremism too often has the opposite effect
and causes it to grow. The Ambassador suggested engaging to the
extent possible those the government suspects of extremism. He
acknowledged this is not easy and not always successful, but is
better than throwing people in prison for their beliefs, no
matter how strongly we disagree with those beliefs. He noted
that USAID, at the request of the President's Strategic Research
Center, will help facilitate a regional conference in Dushanbe
early in June on the role of traditional Islam in Central Asian
society.
6. (SBU) When asked his opinion on the new draft law on
religious institutions proposed by the Committee on Religious
Affairs (ref A),Olimov replied firmly that he did not see the
need for a new law on religion and religious institutions. He
added, "What's wrong with the current law? What problems has it
caused?" The Ambassador agreed completely, and suggested that
the least government regulation of religious life is often the
best.
7. (SBU) In discussing the Tajik government's ban on hijabs in
public schools, Olimov distinguished between traditional Tajik
headscarves and Iranian-style hijabs. He defended the
government's October 2005 decision to ban true hijab in Tajik
schools. He said the government debated the issue thoroughly,
and concluded a secular society could not approve
foreign-inspired religious symbols in public education
facilities. He reminded the Ambassador that the headscarves
seen on city streets and in Tajik villages are considered more
traditional and cultural than religious, and firmly
DUSHANBE 00000766 002.2 OF 002
distinguished them from Iranian-inspired hijabs.
8. (SBU) COMMENT. This meeting was another dividend of Ahmed
Younis's successful visit to Tajikistan, and illustrates once
again the great value of public diplomacy speakers. Olimov's
negative comments on the draft religion law suggest it may not
have full Presidential support. His emphasis that the hijab is
an Iranian import that has to be banned once again illustrates
the Tajik government's continuing caution about Iran - economic
investment, yes; religion and politics, no. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND