MUSLIMS SQUARE OFF - AGAINST AND FOR THE POTUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 001315 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR IAEA KNNP KISL KDEM SCUL IN IR, IZ SUBJECT: MUSLIMS SQUARE OFF - AGAINST AND FOR THE POTUS VISIT REF: NEW DELHI 948 NEW DELHI 00001315 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt, for reasons 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) Summary: On February 21, influential Muslim leader Imam Bukhari of Old Delhi's Jama Mosque confirmed to Poloff that he had rejected overtures from anti-American leaders to support their "Bush go Back" campaign. Bukhari, who formerly supported anti-US campaigns, has moderated his views and grown closer to the Congress Party. Bukhari and his supporters plan to mount a "Mohammad Day" on March 3 to protest blasphemous cartoons against the Prophet Mohammed. The Imam hopes to use the agitation to take the wind out of the sails of the "Bush go Back" campaign by diverting Muslim attention away from politics and towards a religious issue. He also plans to use his Friday sermon on March 24 to urge moderation. Bukhari's efforts are being complimented by a "welcome Bush" campaign sponsored by moderate Shia maulanas in Lucknow and other North Indian cities. With a growing consensus that the Congress-dominated UPA government is here to stay, more pragmatic Muslim leaders see little benefit in joining anti-Bush protests. There is a possibility that as the POTUS visit draws near, Muslims will stage both anti-visit and pro-visit demonstrations and the anti-Bush campaign could lose some momentum. End Summary. Bukhari Takes A Stand -------------- ¶2. (C) In a February 21 meeting, Imam Bukhari of New Delhi's Jama Mosque informed Poloff that he and other Muslim leaders plan to proclaim March 3 as "Mohammad Day" and ask all Muslims to stage rallies and take out protests of the Danish cartoons. The Imam elaborated that his intent was to keep the focus on the cartoons and away from the POTUS visit. Bukhari insisted he will frame the cartoon issue in religious terms, as a question of blasphemy against the Prophet with no political or anti-American angle. ¶3. (C) The Imam clarified that he was under considerable pressure to join Muslim protests against the POTUS visit and was personally called by the fiery anti-US cleric Imam Kalbe Jawaad, who requested him to sign-on. He purportedly told Jawaad that he would confine his remarks to religious issues and stay away from politics and anti-Americanism. Bukhari noted that he planned to stage a "great diversion" aimed at preventing Islamic demonstrations from disrupting the President's visit. On March 1, he is hosting a conference on Islamic development at the Mosque and will lead "Mohammad Day" processions on March 3. The Imam also confirmed that in his March 25 Friday sermon, he will not mention the GOI vote in the IAEA against Iran and will focus solely on Denmark. And Gets Recognition -------------- ¶4. (C) On February 9, the Imam wrote letters to President Abdul Kalam and Congress President Sonia Gandhi urging them to take action against the Danish cartoons. On February 15, Mrs. Gandhi sent a personal reply to Bukhari emphasizing the GOI's outrage. Poloff emphasized to the Imam that Congress was intent on ensuring a smooth POTUS visit and would remember which Muslim leaders joined the "Bush Go Back" NEW DELHI 00001315 002.2 OF 003 campaign. Poloff further noted that Maulana Mahmood Madani as General Secretary of the pro-Congress Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JuH) should be close to the party and should support the visit. Instead, he has called on Muslims to protest the Bush visit and likely ended his ambitions to run for Parliament on a Congress ticket. The Imam was pleased that his stature had increased in the eyes of the GOI and Congress and appeared ready to take up Maulana Madani's earlier mantle as India's leading pro-Congress Muslim. Ready to Still the Waters -------------- ¶5. (C) Bukhari pointed out that it was "irresponsible" to mount large anti-Bush protests, saying that only four provocateurs in a procession could "set the entire country on fire," by encouraging aroused Muslims to violence. He affirmed that he would make sure not to fall into this trap as it would "harm the country." Clearly in good spirits, the Imam laughed when he described the poor response that anti-US radicals were getting from the Muslim public. The Imam affirmed that his rallies draw tens of thousands with minimal financial outlay, while Jawaad and others must spend large sums to draw hundreds. Poloff informed Bukhari that Jawaad had called on all Muslims in India to stage strikes, processions and rallies on March 3 to protest the POTUS visit. Saying that he was not aware of Jawaad's protest call, Bukhari promised to do whatever he could to foil the plan, cool tempers and keep Muslims focused on religious rather than political issues. But Concerned About the Press -------------- ¶6. (C) The Imam lamented that irresponsible Hindi and Urdu journalists were making his job difficult, however, as they continue to distort and politicize the cartoon controversy, the GOI's IAEA vote and the POTUS visit. He urged Mission representatives to meet privately with the editors of vernacular editions to urge them to be more restrained (Comment: we are doing so.) The Imam's media advisor claimed that he and others were writing articles urging moderation and attempting to get them placed in Urdu papers. He pointed out that Muslims in the small towns of North India relied on Urdu newspapers for their news and they had an enormous influence in shaping public opinion. Joint Action With Shias -------------- ¶7. (C) Poloff pointed out to the Imam that leading Shia Maulvis in Lucknow had called to express support for the Bush visit and opposition to the "Bush go back" campaign. They had determined that they would no longer passively resist the campaign, but would mount their own "welcome to Bush" campaign. They have purportedly printed posters and banners welcoming President Bush to India and planned to place them throughout Lucknow and the surrounding region. They also plan to publish articles praising the President as the man who liberated Shias in Afghanistan and Iraq from oppression and pointing out the Hazrat Ali (the Principal Shia religious figure) called on Shias to treat all guests like Allah Himself and asking Sunnis why they had chosen to ignore NEW DELHI 00001315 003.2 OF 003 similar admonitions from the Prophet Mohammad and leading Sunni religious figures. Bukhari said he would get in touch with his Shia colleagues and see if they could coordinate their respective campaigns. Comment: Moderates Beginning to Emerge -------------- ¶8. (C) While some outspoken Muslim leaders have already come out against the POTUS visit, a large number have been sitting on the fence. There appears to be an emerging consensus among more moderate (and less mercenary) Muslim leaders that it is time to speak out. The transformation of Imam Bukhari is significant. Formerly a vocal critic of US policy, he has now determined that it is better to be seen as a moderate and is using his considerable influence to tone down or prevent anti-US and anti-GOI protests. Bukhari and others see no benefit from taking to the streets against the POTUS visit and the US. They perceive that the UPA government, and the Congress are securely in the pro-US camp and it is counterproductive for Muslims to burn their bridges and alienate themselves from a secular government in New Delhi. With signs that the UPA government is likely to serve out a full term, many Muslims are increasingly attracted to Congress and willing to support the GOI position on seeking better relations with the US. While emotions are running high regarding the cartoons, Iran, and the POTUS visit, more thoughtful Muslims realize that these are temporary phenomena. They are taking a longer view and sitting out the protests to gain greater advantage. This means that we are likely to see both pro and anti US agitations as the President's visit draws nearer, and the "Bush Go Back" campaign may not be as successful as its supporters originally hoped. ¶9. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: (http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/) MULFORD