LUCKNOW SHIAS CELEBRATE ZARQAWI'S DEMISE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 004000 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINR KISL KPAO IN SUBJECT: LUCKNOW SHIAS CELEBRATE ZARQAWI'S DEMISE NEW DELHI 00004000 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: A/PolCouns Atul Keshap for reasons 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) Summary: Indian Muslim reaction to the death of Abu Musab al Zarqawi varied. In Lucknow, where there is a clear Shia majority, there were public celebrations, with most in the community jubilant. In the rest of India, however, Shias are a small minority and although privately happy, were intentionally restrained out of fear of their Sunni neighbors. End Summary. ¶2. (U) All major TV news channels in India reported the killing of top AlQaeda terrorist Abu Musab al Zarqawi as the main lead story in every news bulletin. CNN-IBN showed a statement by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki that Zarqawi's body had been positively identified by fingerprints and other indicators, and that seven of his associates had also been killed in the strike. Lucknow Shias are Jubilant -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Five Shia contacts from Lucknow called us on June 8 to thank the US for ridding the world of terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq. Lucknow Muslims first became aware of his death from broadcasts on BBC and CNN and within an hour the news had spread throughout the community. In the Shia-dominated part of old Lucknow, groups of young men gathered on street corners to distribute sweets to passersby in celebration. Typical comments from Shia interlocutors included: --Congratulations for killing the enemy of Shias, of Islam, and of humanity. --I congratulate the American forces for their big catch and am looking forward to the day when the demon Osama bin Ladin is killed. --Congratulations for killing this Satan, the Shia Hussaini Fund is planning a public dinner to celebrate. --This is a big slap on the face of those who defend such forces in the name of Islam. --For our youngsters, this is like another Eid celebration. ¶4. (C) While non-Muslims were just learning of Zarqawi's death, the word had already spread rapidly among the Muslims of Lucknow (both Shias and Sunnis). This demonstrates how closely Lucknow Shias follow international events, particularly in Iraq, and that the moderate majority welcomes an occasion to express their disgust freely with "Islamic" terrorists and publicly reject the extremists. �0A;South India More Restrained -------------- ¶5. (C) Congen Chennai reports that reaction to the death among Muslims in South India has been muted. The principal reason for the lack of enthusiasm is the predominance of Sunni Muslims. In Hyderabad, although 50 percent of the community is Shia, many Muslims were not even aware of the news as of the late afternoon of June 8. Muslims are a small minority in Tamil Nadu and Shias a small subset within the Muslim population. In Kerala, the Muslim community is almost entirely Sunni and there has been no discernible reaction yet, although a few Sunnis have expressed resentment at what NEW DELHI 00004000 002.2 OF 002 they view as a US action. While popular sympathy for Zarwaqi is almost non-existent, a few Muslims stated that the US is the aggressor in a "war against Islam" and that in such a conflict any Muslim casualty should be mourned. Calcutta Muslims Relieved -------------- ¶6. (C) Congen Calcutta reports that the vast majority of Bengali Muslims view terrorism as an affront to Islam that brings down prejudice and ill-feeling on the heads of Muslims who would prefer to just get on with their lives. In such a climate, al-Zarqawi was not well-known or popular. Those Muslims acquainted with his reputation tended to dismiss him as a criminal who went against clear injunctions spelled out in the Qu'ran and killed innocent Shias and Sunnis. Although a few Muslim extremists could get some attention from the media hungry for sensational sound-bites, most Muslims are likely to quietly welcome the news. Some in Mumbai Will Celebrate - but Quietly -------------- ¶7. (C) Mumbai Muslims remained quiet and restrained. A Shia leader told Congen Mumbai that although his community will be delighted to hear the news, it will not stage public celebrations for fear of offending the dominant Sunni community. Demographically, Mumbai's Shias are scattered in Muslim communities throughout the city and must live side by side with the Sunnis, who would not view public celebration as "political correct." Shias are also wary of setting off Sunni/Shia clashes. A Shia Businessman stated that the vast majority of the city's Shias are thankful for the US presence in Iraq, but do not publicly admit it in the presence of Sunnis. He estimated that there is a 20 percent "wahhabi" minority in Mumbai who welcome terrorist attacks against Western interests in the Middle East. Comment - Demography Defines Reaction -------------- ¶8. (C) The varied Muslim reaction was largely defined by demography. Shias generally welcomed the development, but were reluctant to celebrate publicly in areas where they were not in a clear majority. Shias, as a poor, politically weak community, must be sensitive to the reactions of their Sunni neighbors for fear of bringing a violent response upon themselves. Indian Sunnis view Iraq as a political rather than a religious issue, with most condemning US policy. They would not welcome public displays that could be interpreted as support for the US. Likewise, some Sunnis have been influenced by Wahhabi and Deobandi thinking, which emphasizes an alleged "US war against Islam" and calls for Islamic solidarity against "western aggression," even when that can be interpreted as condoning senseless acts of terrorism. 9 (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: (http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/) MULFORD