POSING AS A STATESMAN, MUQTADA AL-SADR CONDEMNS

C O N F I D E N T I A L HILLAH 000087 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/18/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL KDEM IZ SUBJECT: POSING AS A STATESMAN, MUQTADA AL-SADR CONDEMNS REESTABLISHMENT OF U.S.-LIBYA TIES CLASSIFIED BY: Alfred Fonteneau, Regional Coordinator, REO Hillah, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (U) This is a SET Najaf cable. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On May 16, in response to a query from a group of Iraqi teachers based in Libya, Muqtada Al-Sadr issued a "fatwa" decrying the reopening of full diplomatic ties between the United States and Libya. (NOTE: Because he does not have the necessary clerical qualifications, few Shi'a beyond his followers believe Sadr has the required religious authority to issue a fatwa. END NOTE.) The teachers asked for Sadr's comments. Sadr stated that in allowing diplomatic ties, Libya had forgotten the suffering of countries occupied by the U.S. He went on to accuse the U.S. and Libya of planning together the kidnapping of Ayatollah Mousa Al-Sadr (NOTE: Mousa Al-Sadr was an Ayatollah living in Lebanon. Born in Qom, Iran, he disappeared after a meeting with Muammar Qadhafi in 1978. He is considered a cousin of Muqtada Al-Sadr. END NOTE) Sadr closed by asserting that the U.S. was enticing countries to have closer relations in an attempt to enslave them. A move, Sadr claimed, that would only lead to humiliation. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (U) Begin text of Sadr fatwa, which was broken down into four points: -- One: Libya's acceptance of restored relations with the U.S. means that Libya has forgotten the suffering of nations occupied by the U.S., countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan, whose people starve under the oppression of U.S. policies. -- Two: The relationship's restoration is an indication that the U.S. is pleased with Libya after many issues like the Bulgarian nurses scandal, the hijacked airplane incident and [undetermined phrase], etc. This is humiliation and subordination to the inauspicious trinity (the U.S., Israel and Britain). Also, this is an invasion. Not a military invasion, but a political one, as my father said. -- Three: The relationship's restoration and reopening of the U.S. Embassy is a gift for the Libyan regime after it kidnapped the Ayatollah Mousa Al Sadr based on U.S. requests, as part of a U.S. plan to eliminate patriotic figures. I take this opportunity to demand an investigation of Libya and the U.S. and any other suspects in this kidnapping crime. -- Four: This is just the beginning of an effort to open an Israeli embassy in Libya. The U.S. is sending a message to other countries that they should obey the U.S. and make compromises. They shall be rewarded economically and politically. As my father said, "America is trying to enslave as many countries as they can." I advise all other countries to be slaves only to God. For all who do, victory is coming. To follow the Americans is only humiliation. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: In recent months, Muqtada Al-Sadr has begun to take on U.S. foreign policy outside of Iraq. Sadr is clearly positioning himself as more of a regional figure and a statesman, and working to distance himself, at least publicly, from his militia. It is likely that he hopes to find an eager audience for this new image outside of his own country and among his fellow Shi'a in Iraq. With the recent withdrawal of the candidacy of Ibrahim Al-Jafari for Prime Minister, which Sadr had strongly supported, he suffered a political blow. An opportunity to harp at the U.S. internationally, Sadr may believe, might restore some of his political credibility. END COMMENT. MEURS