MUQTADA AL-SADR STATEMENTS: ZARQAWI, COLLABORATING WITH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HILLAH 000074 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PTER KISL IZ SUBJECT: MUQTADA AL-SADR STATEMENTS: ZARQAWI, COLLABORATING WITH THE AMERICANS HILLAH 00000074 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. SUMMARY: On April 28 and 29, Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr issued two "Istifa" or policy statements. The first statement suggested that Al Qaeda leader Zarqawi had entered into a "truce" with Coalition Forces that created a pretext for continued U.S. occupation of Iraq. Muqtada al-Sadr told his followers that Zarqawi's recent video appearance was timed to put pressure on the new national government to accept the presence of Coalition Forces in Iraq. In the second statement, al-Sadr stated that a Sadrist cleric who had met with US forces in a Kirkuk police station was an "infidel" who did not realize that the Hawza (Shi'a religious leaders in Najaf) "could never be allies" with the United States. END SUMMARY ¶2. Muqtada al-Sadr's two statements or "Istifa" were phrased as responses to questions from followers. They are meant to provide religious guidance for actions in a manner similar to a fatwa, but with less formal standing. The first statement concerned the recent release of a videotaped appearance by Al Qaeda terrorist Abu Musab Zarqawi. REO Al-Hillah informal translation follows: Begin translation of the first statement The Iraqis have watched the latest Zarqawi statement on television in which he called all Iraqis; Shi'a, Sunni, or Kurd, traitors, except for those who work with him. How does Muqtada al-Sadr view these statements and their purpose? We appreciate your position that rejects classifying people by their religious beliefs, thus assuring unity for the supreme goal of (liberating) this country and Islam. Sayyed Muqtada: From the statements of Zarqawi, I draw the following conclusions: ¶1. The discourteous appearance of Zarqawi on television occurred after the United States reached a truce and negotiation with Al Qaeda that extends the U.S. influence and strength in Iraq. ¶2. His appearance came after national pressure was placed on the United States to withdraw from Iraq. The United States will not withdraw from Iraq while Zarqawi and his followers are here, so I say that this statement provides an excuse to extend the occupation. ¶3. Zarqawi and his followers accuse all Iraqis who do not work with him to be traitors. He ignores Iraq as a State of Islam and protector of our Islamic heritage. He ignores those who fought against the armies of invasion in Najaf, Karbala, Al-Anbar, Basrah, and Mosul. He ignores the 130 members of the Council of Representatives who declared themselves for freedom and the million Iraqis who have signed petitions demanding the expulsion of the invaders. ¶4. Zarqawi and his followers are collaborators with Saddam Hussein and the Saddamists because in the video, he did not condemn Saddam or his infidel Baathists who committed crimes against innocent Iraqis. ¶5. The appearance of Zarqawi ensures that the Iraqi people face three enemies: the invaders of all nationalities, the extremists, and the Baathists. ¶6. If, according to Zarqawi's words, Shi'a are traitors then I, too, am a traitor and am honored to be one as Muqtada al-Sadr. ¶7. His appearance should be compared to the displacement by force of Iraqis and the killing of innocent people by his followers. ¶8. We remind you: America is the enemy of all nations. Zarqawi's appearance is meant to weaken the national government by supplying a pretext of terrorism in order to force the government to accept the occupation. Zarqawi meant to apply pressure on the Council of Representatives to drop demands for withdrawal of the invaders. Therefore, I am ready to help all my Sunni, Kurd, and Shi'a brothers and the voices in the Parliament to push for the invasion's withdrawal and to stop cooperation between Zarqawi and his followers and the U.S. Ambassador. End informal translation of the first statement. ¶2. Begin informal translation of the second statement: HILLAH 00000074 002.2 OF 002 A group of Sadrists in Kirkuk Province claims that a cleric in the Kirkuk Sadrist office (Dr. Abdul Kareem Khalaf Al-Souadi) met with U.S. officers in a police station. We want to ask if this is acceptable behavior and if communication with U.S. forces is allowable. A Sadr cleric answers: This is unacceptable behavior. It is an outrageous action to talk with Americans. Muqtada warns everyone who is as irresponsible that they will be considered to be an infidel and must be boycotted. All Sadrists must follow the teachings of the Hawza to avoid disgrace. The Hawza and the invaders will never be allies and Iraqis must work for their independence and liberation from the invasion. End informal translation of the second statement. FONTENEAU