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

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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

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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