Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE834
2006-05-04 16:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:  

TAJIKISTAN'S RELIGIOUS LEADERS REACT TO DRAFT LAW ON

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KIRF TI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHDBU #0834/01 1241649
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041649Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7418
INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1596
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1603
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RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1346
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
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RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1561
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1132
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1597
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0919
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 8644
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 000834 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL/IRF, S/P

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN'S RELIGIOUS LEADERS REACT TO DRAFT LAW ON
RELIGION

REF: DUSHANBE 0541

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 000834

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL/IRF, S/P

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN'S RELIGIOUS LEADERS REACT TO DRAFT LAW ON
RELIGION

REF: DUSHANBE 0541


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly.
Not for public Internet.


2. (U) SUMMARY: In a series of meetings with PolOff April
12-25, religious leaders unanimously expressed grave concerns
with the State Committee on Religious Affairs' (SCRA) new draft
law on religion. Most are optimistic the draft law will not
pass this year, if at all. Christian organizations have united
and sent a letter to President Rahmonov and SCRA Chairman
Murudullo Davlatov delineating specific concerns with the draft
law that would limit their freedom-of-religion rights. Islamic
organizations have not responded publicly to the draft law. END
SUMMARY.

CHRISTIAN GROUPS WRITE TO PRESIDENT


3. (SBU) On April 20, 34 Christian organizations sent a letter
to President Rahmonov and SCRA Chairman Davlatov. The letters
to President Rahmonov stressed the concern that implementing the
new law will discredit Tajikistan in the international community
and violate the Tajik Constitution and international agreements
Tajikistan has signed. Attached to the letter are a
point-by-point analysis drafted by the Christian organizations,
and a legal analysis by the Republic Bureau on Human Rights and
Observation of Legitimacy.


4. (SBU) The analyses point out the restrictive nature of the
law, which would prohibit many religious groups to worship
(reftel). The overarching concern raised by the Christian
organizations is the vague nature of the law and further
questions it raises. The organizations' analysis also points
out the first line of the draft states, "[Republic of
Tajikistan] acknowledges a special role of Islam in social and
spiritual life of people of Tajikistan~." Although most have
interpreted the restrictive articles in the draft law to mean
greater restrictions on Islam in an attempt by the government to
curb extremism and Islam's growing popularity, the non-Islamic
organizations fear this line means Islam would be given priority
over other religions. They want to revise the phrase to reflect
equality of all religions in a secular state.

DEALING WITH DAVLATOV


5. (SBU) The non-Islamic organizations submitted their analysis

to SCRA Chairman Davlatov as well and requested additional
meetings to discuss the draft law. Organizations point out that
Davlatov has been a fickle person to meet with and did not take
them seriously in past meetings. They complain that he likes to
drone on in meetings about irrelevant issues and does not seek
their true opinion. The only concern Davlatov wanted to hear
was how the religious organizations defined certain words such
as "association." (COMMENT: Although the organizations
dismissed the importance of Davlatov's questions, a word's
definition is crucial, and ambiguities in the law could give the
government leeway to widely interpret the law. END COMMENT.)


6. (SBU) Davlatov's comments in the press dismissed the
non-Islamic organizations' critique of the draft law saying that
the organizations could not justify their claims that the new
draft law violates articles of the Tajik constitution. When
pressed on details of the draft law, Davlatov remarked that
there is no need to discuss the law on a public level.


7. (SBU) The majority of religious leaders noted that up to
this point they have enjoyed relative freedom to worship and
engage in religious activities. They all cite good
relationships with the previous chairmen of the SCRA. Many

DUSHANBE 00000834 002 OF 003


also specifically pointed out that Davlatov is difficult to
engage with and is a staunch secularist.


8. (SBU) Since Davlatov's term began in 2005, registration has
become more difficult. Although the SCRA never outright denies
registration, it sometimes cites technical application errors to
delay registration, an increasingly common Soviet-style tactic.
Some organizations understand from government sources that more
organizations will be registered after the new draft law passes.



9. (SBU) One organization alleged the SCRA sometimes refused to
approve printing of spiritual literature and delayed the
importation of copies of the New Testament. (COMMENT: The
restriction of religious texts imports could be a result of
bureaucratic red tape or corrupt practices in attempts to get
bribes, rather than a concerted effort to limit freedom of
religion. Humanitarian assistance has been similarly delayed.
As the government increasingly cracks down on corruption,
corrupt working level officials seem to be more desperately
brazen. END COMMENT.)

ISLAMIC GROUPS SILENT ON DRAFT LAW


10. (SBU) Although the minority religious leaders PolOff met
with all received a copy of the draft law, many Islamic leaders
did not. When PolOff visited a local Friday mosque, the elders
and leaders of the mosque told PolOff they had not seen the
draft. After receiving a copy from PolOff, they expressed great
surprise and disdain at the new draft law. Many local imams
received copies of the draft law through informal connections,
rather than directly from the government. The Islamic
Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) Deputy Chairman, who is
also a member of Lower House of Parliament, also received a copy
from the Embassy. (COMMENT: This shows the government has
selectively distributed the draft, and may have made a concerted
effort not to spread too widely to the Islamic community. END
COMMENT.)


11. (SBU) The Imam of the Central Mosque in Dushanbe claimed he
had not read or seen the draft law. He initially praised the
government and said they have not had any problems with the
government, but after PolOff pointed out some details of the
draft law, the Imam said he hopes the draft law will not pass.
Embassy sources tell PolOff that the Council of Ulamo, which
directs the Central Mosque, has indeed received a copy of the
draft law and are also dissatisfied with it, but have not come
out publicly against the draft. Although it is supposed to be
an independent board of Islamic elders, the Council of Ulamo is
heavily influenced by the government.


12. (SBU) Although speaking out against the draft law would be
difficult, Council members told Embassy sources, they do not
favor the law. One main reason is because the state has taken
control of managing the hajj. The profits government officials
reap from bribes and registration fees from the hajj means that
the Council of Ulamo would benefit less from the hajj.


13. (SBU) Even the head of the Russian Orthodox Church agreed
that the hajj should be managed by religious organizations and
not the government. Although he does not feel the Russian
Orthodox Church would be affected by the new law, as many of the
articles are in fact targeted againt Islam, he understands the
new law would negatively impact the Islamic community. However,
he cautioned that religious groups should not protest too much
and anger the government. Leaders of Christian groups have
attempted to contact Islamic leaders, but sensed a lack of
interest on their part on cooperating as an ad hoc coalition.

DUSHANBE 00000834 003 OF 003




14. (SBU) COMMENT: Given the Council of Ulamo's relationship
with the government, it is unlikely Islamic groups will unite in
a coalition with Christian organizations to make public
statements questioning the government. Nevertheless, a number
of organizations are being proactive to voice their concerns to
the government. In the middle of May, the OSCE in Dushanbe will
hold a roundtable to discuss the draft law and present its
analysis of the draft. This will alert the government that the
international community is watching closely. At this time, we
judge it unlikely that, with all this attention, the draft law
will pass as is. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND