RAHMAN CASE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 001544 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SA/FO (DAS GASTRIGHT),SA/A, S/CT, EUR/RPM NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND CENTCOM FOR POLAD, CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76 E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER AF SUBJECT: RAHMAN CASE Classified By: AMB RONALD E. NEUMANN FOR REASONS 1.4(A) AND 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) In the past week Amb has raised the Abdul Rahman case on a one-on-one basis in private meetings with several of Afghanistan's top political leaders, including Vice-President Ziya Massoud, ex-President (and now MP) Burhanuddin Rabbani, MP Abdulrab Rasoul Sayyaf, Wolesi Jirga Speaker Yunus Qanooni and top Shi'ite religious leader Ayatollah Seyed Asif Muhsini. Each discussion involved a thorough explanation of the great value America places on freedom of conscience and the intense interest so many Americans have shown towards Abdul Rahman. Emboffs will continue to repeat this message with their political contacts. ¶2. (C) The Afghan leadership is well aware of how sensitive this case is to the Afghan-American relationship, and seems very willing to try to prevent fanatics going after Christians or inflaming the issues. These leaders are very sophisticated in their understanding of the consequences that would have resulted from Abdul Rahman's being incarcerated for a longer time (none believe he was ever in real danger of death),and each claimed that he had done everything possible to calm the situation in Afghanistan. They are also, of course, subject to great domestic pressure from their conservative and extremist followers who saw western interest in Abdul Rahman's conversion as interference in Afghan affairs. ¶3. (C) For the time being, the Afghan leadership hopes that the emotions over this issue have died down. These leaders agree wholeheartedly in private that it is not in either country's interest to allow emotions in Afghanistan to run wild over incidents that touch on Islam, and they fully understand the importance of working to ensure it does not happen. All of them say we must calm the situation to allow space for rational discussion. Each knows we intend to continue to engage on the broader issue of principle. That having been said, however, another such case may slip beyond their ability to control, and even the leadership may find its political capital severely taxed if the populace perceives that Islam is in some way being threatened or insulted. Neumann