FREED EDITOR ASKS FOR US FUNDING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000426

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR SA/FO AMBASSADOR QUINN, S/CT, SA/A
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND
CENTCOM FOR POLAD, CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76
TREASURY FOR LMCDONALD, WBALDRIDGE, APARAMESWARAN, ABAUKOL
STATE PLEASE PASS USAID
USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KDEM AF
SUBJECT: FREED EDITOR ASKS FOR US FUNDING

REF: A. KABUL 4884


B. KABUL 5076


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: A/DCM and EMBOFFS met with freed editor Ali
Mohaqeq Nasab. He expressed thanks for the Embassy's efforts
to influence his release and asked for substantial funding to
supplement his women's rights publication and other
endeavors. While funding for the scale of projects Nasab
wants to undertake is way beyond limited Embassy funding,
Embassy Information Officer explained the kinds of capacity
building support available under current programming. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) On January 19, A/DCM and EMBOFFS met with Ali Mohaqeq
Nasab, the editor of Hoqoq-e-Zan, a women's rights magazine.
Last fall, Nasab had been arrested and charged with
publishing anti-Islamic material. He was sentenced to two
years in prison, but an appeals court released him on
December 21, with a suspended six month sentence. Nasab
reported that he had not been harassed since his release, but
he has instead become a kind of celebrity. He has been
contacted by many members of the moderate Islamic community
who expressed their support for his actions. His magazine
has been allowed to continue, but without his leadership as
Editor-in-Chief. He is in the process of personally
appealing this decision to the Minister for Information,
Culture and Tourism.


2. (SBU) Nasab asked for USG funds for the following four
projects; saying that they would counter Iranian influence in
Afghanistan as well as give support to moderate Muslims.

- Islamic Science Center - Thirty Moderate Islamic religious
scholars would investigate and research different Islamic
sects and write "real" Islamic viewpoints in the fields of
politics, international relations, and peaceful relations
between all religions. He estimates this project will cost
$400,000 per year.

- Re-establish Hoqoq-e-Zan Magazine - While permission has
been granted for the magazine to continue its publication,
Nasab requested financial support to help resume publication,
as the previous source of funding - an international NGO -
had run its course.

- Social Center for Islamic Scholars - Nasab would like to
recruit 1,000 scholars, each with a monthly salary of $100,
to staff their centers. Several committees would be formed to
explore various Islamic issues, including a committee for
reporters and one for students.

- Assistance with Publication - Nasab has written four books
on moderate Islam and would like U.S. financial assistance in
order to publish them.


3. (SBU) Nasab suggested that U.S. help for his programs
would counter Iran's influence in Afghanistan. He alleged
that hundreds if not thousands of Afghan religious scholars
were going to study in Iran and this was corrupting Afghan
religious traditions. A/DCM informed Nasab that the USG has
limited funding available for capacity building in the media,
and post's Information Officer explained to him the various
technical assistance and exchange programs available for
journalists.


4. (SBU) COMMENT: Nasab's detention and release has been a
high profile issue. Rather than lying low after his release,
he appears to be trying to capitalize on his fame, and in any
case is out continuing to find funding for his projects. END
COMMENT.


5. (U) Dushanbe minimize considered.
NORLAND