CARTOONS: GOI ISSUES STATEMENT OF CONCERN, INDIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001095 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI KISL KDEM SCUL IN DA IR SUBJECT: CARTOONS: GOI ISSUES STATEMENT OF CONCERN, INDIAN MUSLIMS LARGELY CALM REF: A. NEW DELHI 948 ¶B. NEW DELHI 888 NEW DELHI 00001095 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) Summary: Indian Muslims joined in scattered protests against the Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad following Friday prayers on February 10. Most denounced the offensive cartoons, while a few directed their anger into either anti-US demonstrations (encouraged by the Iranian Embassy here),or opportunistic anti-UPA government efforts led by the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh (UP) state. The vast majority of Indian Muslims, if they have heard of the Danish cartoons, are offended by the depictions, but content to convey their displeasure through non-violent, non-incendiary expressions. The GOI, feeling pressure from domestic religious sentiment and the political machinations of its detractors, issued a statement of condemnation on February 11, aimed at reinforcing its bona fides with Congress's Muslim constituency. End Summary. "Juma" Protests Largely Small and Non-Violent -------------- ¶2. (C) Despite the growing worldwide anger over the publication of "anti-Muslim" cartoons, Friday prayers in India passed largely without incident on February 10. In Delhi, Imam Bukhari of the Juma Mosque condemned the cartoons and called on Muslims to express their outrage, but did not mention the US or advocate violence. Demonstrations at other Mosques in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh (UP) were small and peaceful. In Lucknow, anti-US firebrand Imam Kalbe Jawaad attacked the US and the GOI, calling on Muslims to stage protest rallies in the city on February 19, and in Rai Bareli and Amethi (the Gandhi family constituencies) on February 23. The imam of Bhopal's Juma mosque, Mufti Abdul Razzak, who is also an influential Muslim politician, organized an impressive, silent demonstration that was attended by thousands. ¶3. (C) When D/PolCouns called to complain about press reports of anti-American demonstrations in Srinagar led by Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, the head of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in Kashmir, the Mirwaiz said the only burning was of Danish flags and an "effigy of the Danish Prime Minister," not/not President Bush. Mirwaiz also affirmed that his mosque sermon did not single out any country by name, nor did the signs the protesters carried in the demonstration the Mirwaiz presided over. Our sources in Srinagar have given us conflicting accounts of what actually happened, and Mirwaiz clearly did not exert total control over all the protesters in Srinagar that day. D/PolCouns reminded the Mirwaiz that the USG paid close attention to his public statements and actions given his record as a moderate, constructive separatist, and noted that the Secretary and President have called on Muslim leaders to help calm the cartoon controversy. The Mirwaiz responded that as long as no more cartoon reprints occurred, no more demonstrations would take place. The GOI Voices "Deep Concern" -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The continued international attention to the cartoons, and the demonstrations in India following Friday NEW DELHI 00001095 002.2 OF 002 prayers, pushed the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to release a statement on February 11 expressing "deep concern" over the controversy, reminding its constituency that the GOI had conveyed Indian "outrage" about the "offending cartoons" to the Danish government in October 2005, and calling on all people to "be sensitive to the beliefs and sentiments of others." "Actions that cause hurt to the sentiments of any part of our people are not acceptable," the statement concluded. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Indian Muslim reaction to the cartoon controversy reinforces their reputation for moderation and illustrates the divide between Imams willing to encourage violence and extremism (very few) and those trying to keep Muslim outrage within bounds (the vast majority). Cities that have seen large demonstrations or provocative Friday sermons are those in which politically ambitious Imams are known to be in league with the Iranians (who are determined to recruit Indian Muslims into an anti-US campaign, Ref A) or the local nexus of politicians and gangsters. This is particularly true in UP, where Mulayam Singh Yadav's ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) is well known for its lack of principles and is hoping to exploit Muslim emotions to score political points against its arch-rival Congress. The SP and the Iranians are, according to our sources, liberally using money and "muscle-power" to fan the flames. So far, however, the popular response has been minimal. As for the Kashmiris, we laid down our marker in our conversation with the Mirwaiz, and hope that he understands the potential damage this issue could do to his carefully groomed reputation as a moderate. MULFORD