Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT661
2006-02-27 14:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

KUWAITI SHI'A AND SUNNIS CONDEMN IRAQ SHRINE

Tags:  PTER PGOV PREL IZ KU KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS SHI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0022
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHKU #0661/01 0581428
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 271428Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3203
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000661 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NSC FOR RAMCHAND, LONDON FOR TSOU,
PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL IZ KU KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS SHI
SUBJECT: KUWAITI SHI'A AND SUNNIS CONDEMN IRAQ SHRINE
BOMBING; SOME BLAME U.S.

REF: A. KUWAIT 634

B. KUWAIT 630

Classified By: DCM Matt Tueller for reason 1.4 (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000661

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NSC FOR RAMCHAND, LONDON FOR TSOU,
PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL IZ KU KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS SHI
SUBJECT: KUWAITI SHI'A AND SUNNIS CONDEMN IRAQ SHRINE
BOMBING; SOME BLAME U.S.

REF: A. KUWAIT 634

B. KUWAIT 630

Classified By: DCM Matt Tueller for reason 1.4 (d)


1. (C) Summary and comment: During a February 24 rally at
the Shi'a Imam Hussein mosque, Kuwaitis from across the
religious and political spectrum condemned the bombing of the
Al-Askariya shrine in Iraq. While most speakers blamed the
attack on Sunni extremists and stressed the need for Muslim
unity, many also either directly or indirectly blamed the
U.S.; some even suggested the attackers were agents of the
U.S. and/or Israel. In the most vicious attack, former
member of Parliament (MP) Adnan Abdul Samad said, "Targeting
these shrines destroys the unity of Sunnis and Shi'a in Iraq
and boosts the Zionist-American scheme in the region." He
also accused the U.S., which he called the "mother of
sectarianism" and a "snake's head," of intentionally
fomenting sectarian conflict among Muslims in order to "take
control of the Islamic world." Shi'a MP Dr. Hassan Jowhar
and Secretary General of the Justice and Peace Gathering (a
Shi'a political association) Abdul Hussein Al-Sultan both
called for Ambassador Khalilzad to be replaced, accusing him
of contributing to sectarian tensions in Iraq by calling for
a national unity government. Representatives from two
conservative Sunni political associations, the Ummah
(Nations) Party and the Islamic Constitutional Movement
(ICM),also spoke at the rally. During the speeches, some
audience members periodically shouted "Death to Israel, death
to America"; as well as, "Death to Zarqawi, death to Bin
Laden."


2. (C) Comment: Post does not see an immediate threat of
sectarian tension from Iraq spilling over into Kuwait. The
rally, which was attended by several conservative Sunni
groups, demonstrated the relatively good relations between
Kuwait's Shi'a and Sunni communities, even their more
conservative elements. More worrying, however, is the
spillover of anti-U.S. sentiments. Events in Iraq and

elsewhere in the region are allowing some degree of anti-U.S.
feeling to be expressed in a population that normally is
uniquely disposed to view U.S. actions in the region in a
favorable light. Ironically, many of the speakers at the
rally were close embassy contacts and meet regularly with
embassy officials, highlighting the contradictory views of
many in the region. One contact even asked Poloff prior to
the rally for assistance in obtaining a U.S. visa and
expressed a desire to meet with the Ambassador. Asked why
the speakers had expressed such strongly anti-U.S. views only
days before Kuwait celebrated Liberation Day, he responded
with a shrug, "This is democracy. This is free speech." End
summary and comment.

Conservative Kuwaiti Shi'a and Sunni Condemn Shrine Bombing
-------------- --------------


3. (C) The National Islamic Alliance (NIA),a conservative,
pro-Iranian Shi'a political association in Kuwait, organized
a rally February 24 at the Shi'a Imam Hussein mosque to
protest the February 22 bombing of the Al-Askariya shrine in
Samarra, Iraq. (Comment: The NIA and worshippers frequenting
the Imam Hussein mosque are often referred to as "Kuwaiti
Hizbollah," a pejorative term used primarily by their
political opponents to discredit them (ref B). One former
Shi'a member of Parliament (MP) told Poloff recently that the
Imam Hussein mosque was "the political center of Kuwaiti
Hizbollah." Additional information on "Kuwaiti Hizbollah"
has been reported through separate channels. End comment.)
The rally was attended by approximately 400 people; though
there were several prominent Sunni Islamist leaders present,
it was unclear what portion of the audience was Sunni.
Speakers included former NIA MPs Adnan Abdul Samad and Dr.
Abdul Mohsen Jamal; current Shi'a MPs Dr. Hassan Jowhar and
Sayed Hussein Al-Qallaf; Secretary General of the Justice and
Peace Gathering (JPG),a moderate Shi'a political
association, Abdul Hussein Al-Sultan; Secretary General of
the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM),the political arm
of the Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait, Dr. Bader Al-Nashi; Vice
President of the Ummah (Nations) Party, a controversial
Salafi political association, Awwad Al-Dhafiri; and liberal
writer Ahmed Deyain. The rally was one of several that took
place on February 23 and 24 (ref A).


4. (C) During the speeches, some audience members
periodically shouted religious and political slogans,
including, "Death to Israel" and "Death to America"; as well
as, "Death to Zarqawi" and "Death to (Osama) bin Laden." Dr.
Abdullah Sahar, a moderate Shi'a professor at Kuwait
University who attended the event, told Poloff after the

KUWAIT 00000661 002 OF 002


rally that those shouting slogans had been planted around the
mosque by "the organizers of the event" and did not represent
the majority view. According to Sahar, one audience member
even challenged a speaker's accusation of U.S. complicity in
the bombing and left the mosque in protest.

"A Zionist-American Scheme"?
--------------


5. (C) Most speakers blamed the attack on "Takfiris" intent
on dividing Shi'a and Sunni Muslims, and emphasized the need
for Muslim unity. (Note: "Takfiris" or "Takfireen" are
Muslims who accuse other Muslims of being "kafrs" (infidel)
for not adhering to their strict interpretation of Islam.
End note.) Many speakers also either directly or indirectly
blamed the U.S. for the attack, several suggesting the Sunni
extremists who perpetrated the bombing were agents of the
U.S. and Israel. The most vicious attack came from former
NIA MP Adnan Abdul Samad, who said, "These events were
perpetrated by Takfiris, ignorant or hateful people who were
committed by agents of the Zionist scheme." Calling the U.S.
the "mother of sectarianism" and a "snake's head," Samad
claimed the U.S. and "the evil powers" were creating crises
between Muslims and confronting Iran and Hamas in order to
"take control of the Islamic world." He continued,
"Targeting these shrines destroys the unity of Sunnis and
Shi'a in Iraq and boosts the Zionist-American scheme in the
region."


6. (C) Shi'a MP Dr. Hassan Jowhar called for the replacement
of Ambassador Khalilzad, whom he blamed for contributing to
the sectarian tensions that led to the attack by publicly
calling for the formation of a national unity government.
Jowhar also demanded the U.S. stop negotiating with Sunni
extremists and Baathists in Iraq, who he claimed were
sheltering the attackers. "The incident has caused a great
earthquake that will destroy whoever tries to ignite sedition
between Muslims," he concluded. Jowhar was interrupted
several times during his speech by shouts of "Death to
Israel, death to America," which he did not attempt to stop.
JPG Secretary General Abdul Hussein Al-Sultan also blamed
Ambassador Khalilzad for interfering in Iraqi internal
politics, and argued that "religious authorities must stand
against this Western scheme which seeks to eliminate Iraq."
He blamed "Takfiris and Zionists" for the bombing.


7. (C) Shi'a MP Sayed Hussein Al-Qallaf blamed the bombing
on "malignant hands" and said the "incident has highlighted
the real enemy of Islam that seeks to sow seeds of sedition."
Shi'a cleric Shaykh Mohammed Al-Jazzaf suggested the
"beneficiaries" of the bombing were "the three-part evil axis
of Baathists, Takfiris, and the occupation troops." ICM
Secretary General Dr. Bader Al-Nashi expressed Sunni

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solidarity with Shi'a Muslims and stressed the need to
"protect our minds from sectarian ideas." Sectarianism, he
argued, "enables foreign powers to achieve their schemes,
which aim to weaken our belief in the possibility of (united)
Islamic action." Liberal writer Ahmed Deyain was more
direct: "The Zionist enemy is the sole beneficiary of this
incident."

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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/
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LEBARON