Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HILLAH95
2006-06-01 10:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
REO Hillah
Cable title:  

DURING FRIDAY PRAYERS IN KUFA, MUQTADA AL-SADR APPEARS TO

Tags:  PGOV KISL KDEM IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4376
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHIHL #0095 1521045
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011045Z JUN 06
FM REO HILLAH
TO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0628
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0642
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHIHL/REO HILLAH 0693
C O N F I D E N T I A L HILLAH 000095 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/1/2016
TAGS: PGOV KISL KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: DURING FRIDAY PRAYERS IN KUFA, MUQTADA AL-SADR APPEARS TO
MODERATE STAND ON WITHDRAWAL OF COALITION FORCES

CLASSIFIED BY: Douglas Meurs, DRC, REO Al Hillah, Department of
State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



C O N F I D E N T I A L HILLAH 000095

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/1/2016
TAGS: PGOV KISL KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: DURING FRIDAY PRAYERS IN KUFA, MUQTADA AL-SADR APPEARS TO
MODERATE STAND ON WITHDRAWAL OF COALITION FORCES

CLASSIFIED BY: Douglas Meurs, DRC, REO Al Hillah, Department of
State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (U) This is a SET Najaf cable.


2. (C) Summary: On Friday, May 26, Muqtada Al-Sadr made an
appearance during the midday prayers at the Kufa mosque in Najaf
province. Sadr last spoke in Kufa mosque on April 7. Sadr
called on "true believers" to begin to strictly follow Islamic
teachings. He also called for a timetable for withdrawal of
Coalition Forces (CF),but appeared to modify his long-standing
position that CF must completely withdraw from Iraq quickly. He
continued his demands that the newly formed Council of
Representatives (CoR) take charge of all of the country's
affairs, including exclusive responsibility for security. End
Summary.


3. (C) The appearance of Muqtada Al-Sadr at Kufa mosque on May
27 for the Friday sermon appeared to be a surprise to all
assembled. Sheik Ali Al-Nouamini began the sermon to a crowd of
approximately one thousand. Sadr arrived shortly after Nouamini
began. He took the floor and went directly to the meat of his
message -- "The era of Imam Al Mahdi is near," Sadr told his
flock. (Note: Al Mahdi is the 12th Imam of the Shi'a faith.
His reappearance, according to Shi'a teaching, will begin the
Rapture. End Note.) Shi'a must prepare by devoting their lives
to Islamic teachings, according to Sadr.


4. (C) Sadr had a number of demands for Coalition Forces -- The
CoR must create a timetable for withdrawal of CF and they must
abide by the Iraqi government timeline. However, he noted that
CF should stay and defend Baghdad and Sammara. Tempering his
calls for the withdrawal of the Coalition, he said that CF "must
help lead Iraq to peace." If they could not, however, Sadr
asserted that they "should leave the job to the Hawza and
clerics." Before completing his sermon, he returned to the fire
and brimstone style that characterized the bulk of his message
-- He accused CF of supporting sectarianism in order to divide
Iraq and said, "President Bush should provide compensation for
the families hurt by American troops."


5. (C) Sadr also had words of advice and an admonition for the
Iraqi Government -- "The Government should help those who have
been displaced," he said (in reference to internally displaced
persons fleeing sectarian violence or threats). The Government
must also undertake, as part of its duties, talks with all of
the governments currently interfering in Iraq. They should,
Sadr feels, use their power to convince the countries to "leave
Iraq to Iraqis." Finally, he noted that, ultimately, "all
Iraqis should take responsibility to unify Iraq."


6. (C) Comment: Sadr's message was disjointed. His call for
the withdrawal of CF was not new. However, Sadr's concession
that CF should remain in Baghdad and Samarra was unprecedented.
He appears to be attempting to moderate his public stance. For
a long time, Sadr has called for nothing less than the total
withdrawal of Coalition Forces from Iraq. He may be hoping that
his call to allow CF troops to remain in Baghdad and Samarra
will seem more thoughtful and less single-minded. It is
possible that he hopes, by making small changes to his message,
that those who have dismissed his repeated demands in the past
will now take note. End comment.

MEURS