Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LILONGWE204
2006-03-01 16:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:  

MALAWIAN MUSLIMS PROTEST CARTOONS

Tags:  PGOV KDEM ASEDC MI 
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VZCZCXRO3476
RR RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHLG #0204 0601629
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011629Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2440
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS LILONGWE 000204 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/S GABRIELLE MALLORY
STATE FOR INR/AA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ASEDC MI
SUBJ: MALAWIAN MUSLIMS PROTEST CARTOONS

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000204

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/S GABRIELLE MALLORY
STATE FOR INR/AA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ASEDC MI
SUBJ: MALAWIAN MUSLIMS PROTEST CARTOONS


1.(U) Muslims in both Lilongwe and Blantyre held rallies on
February 24 against the publication of cartoons of the
Prophet Mohammed in European newspapers. A few of the
approximately 300 protestors in Lilongwe began throwing
rocks at police after they were refused permits for the
march at the last minute. Police responded by firing tear
gas at the protestors, making nine arrests in all. One 16-
year old boy was injured, after a protester's rock hit him
in the head. Aside from this incident there were no other
injuries.

2.(SBU) Comment: The protest was ostensibly focused on the
Danish cartoons. But in the Malawi context, it also was
(rare) chance for Muslims to go to the streets with a
grievance in hand. The subtext was the discrimination the
community perceives and voices on the part of President
Mutharika's government. It also was loosely associated with
Vice President Cassim Chilumpha, who is Muslim, and the
attempt by Mutharika to remove him from office which began
two weeks ago. In the end the protest was relatively non-
violent and well-handled by the police.

3.(SBU) The protest was supported by the Muslim Association
of Malawi (MAM),one of two major Muslim groups in Malawi.
While MAM has generally opposed Mutharika's government, the
less popular Quadria Muslim Association of Malawi publicly
works with the government. Though none of the cartoons were
published in the Malawian media, the issue gave MAM a
convenient excuse to take to the streets to express their
displeasure at a series of perceived slights by the GOM. In
recent months, MAM leaders have complained that Muslim
communities have not received adequate humanitarian food aid
distributions during Malawi's food crisis. MAM also
requested a meeting with the President last month to discuss
the widening political gap between government and the Muslim
community, but to date Mutharika has not agreed to see them.
No further demonstrations linked to the cartoons are
expected.

EASTHAM