KUWAITI PSYCHOLOGIST USES AMERICAN-STYLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004416 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2016 TAGS: PGOV KIRF KISL KU SUBJECT: KUWAITI PSYCHOLOGIST USES AMERICAN-STYLE PSYCHOLOGY TO DISCOURAGE TERRORISM AMONG IMAMS REF: A. KUWAIT 4178 ¶B. KUWAIT 3877 ¶C. KUWAIT 3650 ¶D. KUWAIT 1741 Classified By: DCM Matthew Tueller for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C/NF) Summary. PolOff met with Dr. Bashir Al-Rashidi, a U.S.-trained psychologist who is involved in the training of imams to embrace a moderate version of Islam, as part of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs' (MAIA) larger "moderation" initiative. One way Al-Rashidi has contributed to the training program is by writing a book on why jihad should not be used as a justification for terrorism. Al-Rashidi notes that rather than preaching to the imams whom he trains, he uses an approach that helps the imams discover for themselves that extremism is unjustifiable in Islam. Another emphasis of his training is to try to stop the trainees from infusing basically political conflicts with religious significance. Al-Rashidi also uses his psychological background in analyzing extremism, noting that the torture used by GOK officials against extremists is counterproductive. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) PolOff met with U.S.-trained psychologist Dr. Bashir Al-Rashidi on November 6 to talk about Rashidi's role in developing materials for training imams to embrace moderation. Al-Rashidi noted that the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs' (MAIA) goal was to uproot extremism from Kuwait through public awareness programs and training imams and Islamic studies teachers. Al-Rashidi himself has contributed extensively to the training materials and delivers some of the training sessions himself. He combines his extensive knowledge and faith in Islam with his psychological training to try to convince imams that extremism is un-Islamic. ¶3. (SBU) Al-Rashidi says that the Ministry has identified 200 concepts in Islam that are misused by terrorists to encourage radicalism. They plan to dissect each of these topics in order to show Muslims the real, moderate meanings behind the terms. Al-Rashidi recently completed a book on the first topic, jihad. Al-Rashidi said his book talks about the many meanings of Jihad, only one of which is fighting. He emphasizes that no one except a political leader can declare a "fighting" Jihad since it has repercussions that affect the whole society. Al-Rashidi says the Ministry has also completed work on a monograph delegitimizing "tatarrus," or "collateral damage," which terrorists take to mean that it is acceptable to kill Muslims who happen to be near a target. ¶4. (C/NF) Al-Rashidi noted that when the imams begin the training many have rigid attitudes. He says that rather than telling them they are wrong, he encourages them to talk about Jihad and other concepts. Al-Rashidi describes it almost like a new age self-help meeting where he is leading them down a process of self-discovery. He says that over the course of several weeks he and the other MAIA trainers have had astonishing success in showing the imams that their own beliefs actually lead them to a moderate view of Jihad and other concepts used by terrorists and extremists. Al-Rashidi stressed that this process is key because the imams must be prepared to rebut members of their congregations who come to them with extremist views of Jihad. Al-Rashidi invited PolOff to come and observe some of his training sessions. ¶5. (C/NF) Al-Rashidi also told PolOff that all terrorists have psychological problems. Once they have become terrorists or extremists, it is nearly impossible to cure them since they become obsessed with a certain idea and have a hard time escaping it. This is the reason, he said, that the Ministry has placed so much focus on educational programs that will prevent people from becoming extremists or terrorists. He was especially critical of the Kuwaiti police for torturing suspected terrorists, because he says that those who are tortured come out of prison incurably hardened. ¶6. (C/NF) Lastly, Al-Rashidi emphasized that he and the Ministry are trying to separate political conflicts from the religious explanations ascribed to them. For instance, he attempts to show his trainees that the struggle between Shi'a and Sunni in Iraq is political rather than religious. He also encourages the imams in his training sessions to focus on Kuwait rather than contentious issues like Israel or Iraq. However, when the subject of U.S. support to Israel is broached, he tells them that America is a friend. But just as we do not abandon friends who are making mistakes, Kuwait should not reject America because of its policy on Israel. Bio Note KUWAIT 00004416 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶7. (C/NF) Dr. Bashir Al-Rashidi spent seven years in the U.S. He studied at Michigan State University and Ohio State University. He graduated from OSU in 1982 with a PhD in Psychology. He also holds a PhD in management. Dr. Al-Rashidi was out of the country when Iraq invaded Kuwait, but returned two weeks later out of patriotism. He was arrested six times by the Iraqis because, he says, he was preaching in the mosques and refused to pray for Saddam Hussein. Ultimately, he was sent to prison in Iraq, where he was shuttled around to prisons including those in Basra, Mosul, Ramadi, and Abu Ghraib until his release three months later. He said he tried to help the other prisoners enjoy the experience because, as he says, he knew it would be a unique experience. He was threatened with execution and told his jailers it was fine with him since it was no better or worse than being in Saddam's prison. Dr. Al-Rashidi told PolOff that he caught the late Amir Shaykh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah's attention because he was providing excellent psychological services to the Kuwaiti public at one-third the cost of the government's services. He became a principal advisor to the Amir until the Amir's stroke debilitated him. ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * LeBaron