Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NEWDELHI1315
2006-02-22 12:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

MUSLIMS SQUARE OFF - AGAINST AND FOR THE POTUS

Tags:  PGOV PREL PINR IAEA KNNP KISL KDEM SCUL IN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 221246Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0387
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0465
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 3619
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 0110
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 3641
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6527
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 4289
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 6908
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2797
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RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 1662
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2418
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 2139
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0904
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 2821
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9263
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1428
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHMFISS/HQ USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
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)

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