NAJAF FRIDAY SERMONS: SADRIST SAYS THE JAYSH AL-MAHDI ARE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HILLAH 000075 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/1/2016 TAGS: KISL PGOV PINS PTER IZ SUBJECT: NAJAF FRIDAY SERMONS: SADRIST SAYS THE JAYSH AL-MAHDI ARE NOT "MILITIA" HILLAH 00000075 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Alfred Fonteneau, Regional Coordinator, REO Hillah, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY During Friday sermons in Kufa and Najaf, Sadr cleric Sayyed Mohammed al-Tabatebaiee rejected the idea of integrating militias into Iraqi security forces in contrast to SCIRI preacher Al-Deen al-Qubanji who praised integration. Both clerics appeared to be reacting to Ayatollah Sistani's April 28th statement putting responsibility for maintaining public order squarely in the hands of national security forces. The difference between the two Shi'a religious parties was also evident in atmospherics; the Kufa mosque was crowded with 1700-2000 young men, most wearing Sadr-black uniforms with green armbands. By contrast, the 800 strong audience for al-Qubanji's sermon included many local dignitaries as well as clerics from SCIRI leader Abd al-Aziz al-Hakim's office. A subsequent Sadrist press conference in Najaf and similar statements from Sadrist officials in Wasit Province indicate that Sadrists are presenting a united front on keeping the Mahdi Militia independent while not openly contradicting Ayatollah Sistani. END SUMMARY Background: Ayatollah Sistani's Statement -------------- ¶2. (U) Both sermons appeared to be in reaction to Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani's policy statement the day before. Sistani discussed his meeting with Prime Minister-designate Norri al-Malaki. He notably called for domestic security to be in the control of national security forces with sectarian militia to be folded into government security units as appropriate. Sistani urged the new administration to fight corruption and stated that the marja'iya placed the national interest above sectarian politics. ¶3. (C) Accordingly, the Sadrist and Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) clerical replies appear to have been heavily anticipated. Minibuses coming from Baghdad filled a parking lot outside the Sadrist Kufa mosque. Najaf provincial council SCIRI party members were in the audience at SCIRI cleric Al Deen al-Qubanji's sermon. Security was tight at both mosques, but while both Sadr Madhi Militia and Badr Organization (the armed wing of SCIRI) militia members provided security at their respective venues, weapons were not obviously on display. Sadr Cleric Sayyed Mohammed al-Tabatebaiee: There are no Sadr Militia -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Senior Sadr cleric al-Tabatebaiee centered his sermon on an explanation of why the Mahdi Militia did not fit the definition of militia as used by Ayatollah Sistani. Militia, al-Tabatebaiee explained, are organized, well-trained, well-equipped, well-paid, and well-led. They also receive support from the outside. An example would be the Kurdish peshmerga, al-Tabatebaiee stated. On the other hand, he continued, the so-called Mahdi Militia possess none of these qualities. Their members were not trained, relying only on their prior military experience and carrying only personal arms. They did not receive outside support, received no salary, and were fighting only for the sake of their religion and Islam. ¶5. (C) Al-Tabatebaiee attributed the idea of equating Mahdi members as a militia to Ambassador Khalilzad. Ambassador Khalilzad sought to end the Sadrist ability to defend themselves, he said. If the militia are to be eliminated, Tabatebaiee said, one will have to include the peshmerga. ¶6. (C) Al-Tabatetaiee also discussed an Iraqi Army raid in Kufa several nights before, blaming the raid and one death on the Americans (COMMENT: Our involvement was limited to providing air cover and back-up. END COMMENT). He mentioned a recent Al-Zarqawi video, condemning Al-Zarqawi's comments and the fact that he appeared with terrorists dressed in black (the color of Mahdi Militia uniforms). SCIRI Cleric Al-Deen al-Qubanji: Integrate the Militia -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Al-Qubanji's remarks were well attended by Najaf provincial dignitaries, including Provincial Council members and senior clerics from the office of SCIRI leader Ayatollah Abd al-Aziz al-Hakim. Security was tight and roads leading to the Husiniyia Mosque in Najaf were closed. Badr Organization militia members provided inner perimeter security and the Najaf police had numerous police patrols in the neighborhood. ¶8. (C) In contrast to Sadrist al-Tabatetaiee, al-Qubanji HILLAH 00000075 002.2 OF 002 expressed optimism concerning the new government, stating that resolution of the political impasse will help stabilize security and enable prosperity to develop. He approved of the idea of merging militia into regular security forces, and demanded that the international community, including the Arab League, move to support integration. ¶9. (C) Like al-Tabataiee, al-Qubanji condemned Zarqawi's television appearance. Al-Qubanji characterized Zarqawi and his ex-Baathist allies as an example of mis-guided extremism. ¶10. (C) COMMENT: In REO's assessment, Sadrist cleric al-Tabatebaiee was speaking directly for Moqtada al-Sadr. He was often seen in 2004 standing closely behind and to the left of MAS during MAS's public sermons in Najaf. Subsequently, al-Tabatebaiee was arrested by coalition forces and released seven months ago. During his incarceration, he allegedly led Sadrist Friday afternoon prayers in the prison, an indication of his close standing to MAS. Thus, his comments that the Jaysh al-Mahdi may not tolerate integration into formal Iraqi security units may prefigure hard political bargaining to come, and perhaps, future violence in the South-Central region. At the same time, al-Tabatebaiee took care not to directly contradict Sistani's call for militia integration. ¶11. (C) At an April 30th press conference called by Sadrist after meeting with Moqtada al-Sadr in Najaf, Council of Representatives member Dr. Bahaa al-Araji stated that the Mahdi Militia are not connected to a particular party, but are more of a public movement and therefore do not meet a legal definition of militia. He also suggested that the Mahdi Militia do not need integration into public institutions as many members are already public employees or professionals. Sadr officials in Wasit Province on the same day offered much the same reasoning to REO staff, indicating extensive coordination of this party message. END COMMENT FONTENEAU