USCIRF IN TURKMENISTAN: GOVERNMENT SIGNALS DESIRE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ASHGABAT 000897

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF TX
SUBJECT: USCIRF IN TURKMENISTAN: GOVERNMENT SIGNALS DESIRE
TO IMPROVE, BUT SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS REMAIN

REF: A. ASHGABAT 878

B. ASHGABAT 863

C. ASHGABAT 860

D. ASHGABAT 845

ASHGABAT 00000897 001.2 OF 004


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Richard E. Hoagland for reasons 1.4(B)
and (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: An August 19-25 visit by a delegation of
commissioners and staffers from the U.S. Commission on
International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) demonstrated that
Turkmenistan is starting a transition that could lead to
substantially improved religious tolerance. Given
unprecedented access, the USCIRF group -- all outspoken
critics of past religious policies here -- was told by
President Berdimuhamedov and others that they are willing to
make changes needed (including, if necessary, revamping
Turkmenistan's law on religion) to improve Turkmenistan's
religious freedom environment. That said, religious groups
-- especially non-traditional groups -- continue to
experience serious difficulties with practicing their faith.
The delegation was promised that the government would
continue to release individuals imprisoned for complicity in
the 2002 attack against former President Niyazov's motorcade,
and would
hold a roundtable with religious groups to discuss problems
they are facing. But the biggest problem in bringing about
change may prove to be convincing lower-level government
personnel, who still continue to follow old practices, that
change is needed. END SUMMARY.

GOVERNMENT OPENS ITS DOORS TO USCIRF


2. (SBU) The USCIRF delegation included Chairman Michael
Cromartie, Commissioner Donald Argue, Commissioner Imam Talal
Eid, and staff members David Dettoni, Catherine Cosman and
Christopher Swift. This week-long visit by a group known to
be outspoken critics of the government is
unprecedented -- and would have been impossible a year ago.
Yet, the delegation's schedule was jam-packed: the
delegation requested -- and was granted -- meetings during
its August 19-25 visit with the heads of every government
body that touches on religious freedom, including President
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov (ref a). (NOTE: Our understanding
is this is the first time USCIRF has met with a head of
state. END NOTE.)


3. (SBU) Other meetings were with Deputy Chairman of the
Cabinet of Ministers/Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov (ref c),
Director of the Institute of Democracy and Human Rights
Shirin Akhmedova, Minister of Internal Affairs Hojamyrat
Annagurbanov, Minister of Education Muhammetgeldi Annaamanov
(ref b),Chairman of the State Service for Registration of
Foreign Citizens Yaylym Berdiyev, Chairman of the Mejlis
(Parliament) Committee on Protection of Human Rights and
Freedoms Juma Jumaev, Minister of Justice Myrat Garryev,
Minister of Culture Kakageldi Charyardurdyev (ref d),and
Council of Religious Affairs Chairman Charygeldi Seryayev and
Deputy Chairman Nurmuhammet Gurbanov. The delegation members
also visited a number of cultural and religious sites,
including four mosques and a Russian Orthodox church.

NON-TRADITIONAL GROUPS REPORT PROBLEMS


4. (C) During the course of two Embassy-hosted roundtables,
non-mainstream registered and unregistered religious groups
told delegation members of the difficulties under which they
were operating. While the unregistered groups were facing
the most serious problems, including harassment from
law-enforcement and local religious affairs authorities, even
the registered groups indicated that they, too, were not
operating without challenges. Registered groups complained

ASHGABAT 00000897 002 OF 004


about the increased administrative load they were facing as a
result of requirements to report all activities. They also
agreed that they continued to face serious difficulties with
getting their sacred texts imported or printed in-country and
with finding places to worship. One already-registered group
of Pentacostals reported that a session held to attract new
members on July 31 was summarily broken up, and that all 200
individuals attending the session had been trucked off to a
police station, where they had been photographed and
questioned.


5. (C) That said, however, the registered and unregistered
group representatives were also able to deliver some good
news. Most reported that they had recently been told they
would be allowed to travel abroad -- in some cases, for the
first time ever. And most (including unregistered groups)
also indicated that, notwithstanding the harassment and other
problems they faced, their congregations were continuing to
grow. Although members of some of the minority religious
groups expressed trepidation at being seen meeting with the
USCIRF delegation, all subsequently reported that they were
not harassed by authorities either prior to or following the
meetings.

GOVERNMENT MEETINGS TOUGH BUT CONSTRUCTIVE


6. (C) The delegation came prepared to make some tough
points. In meeting after meeting, members hammered home
their concerns over the problems faced by those -- especially
in non-traditional groups -- seeking to practice their
faiths. Imam Talal Eid expressed the discomfort that he had
felt seeing passages from the Ruhnama on the walls of the
Gypjak mosque and called for the government and Muslim
clerics to be supportive of minority efforts to
worship. Delegation members urged the government to
eliminate the registration requirement -- or, at least, to
allow all groups trying to register to do so. Commissioners
Argue and Eid stressed that the members of the
non-traditional groups were good, productive citizens who
posed no threat to the government and should not be harassed
or ill-treated by Turkmenistan's law enforcement bodies.
Commissioners Cromartie and Argue pushed for the government
to allow printing of religious materials in Turkmenistan, or
for customs laws to be revised so that religious groups can
easily import the materials they need to practice their
faiths. All pushed for religious leaders outside
Turkmenistan to be allowed to visit members of their faiths,
and for members of religious groups to travel abroad for
religious study. They also encouraged the government to
assist non-traditional groups to find places to worship and
to address problems faced by conscientious objectors.


7. (C) While many of the ministers were clearly unused to
and uncomfortable with discussing these issues, the
atmosphere in all meetings remained productive and
constructive. In many cases, the ministers acknowledged
there were problems, expressed the desire to resolve those
issues, and asked for USCIRF's assistance in revamping
Turkmenistan's law on religion. Only the Minister of
Internal Affairs denied that there were any problems and, in
fact, a deputy minister in the meeting claimed, "We are not
involved in these (cases of harassment). We do not harass
religious groups. Our job is only to ensure public
security." Likewise, the Chairman of the State Service for
Registration of Foreign Citizens claimed that any
individuals being denied permission to depart Turkmenistan
were not facing problems because they were members of
religious groups, but rather, for other reasons. In a few
cases, ministers tried to pass off responsibility for the
problems religious groups were experiencing to other
agencies. The Minister of Justice, responsible for
registering religious groups, referred the delegation to the

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Council of Religious Affairs, while the Council referred the
delegation to the Ministry of Justice.

A SEDAKA OF THANKSGIVING


8. (C) One of the most touching events that the delegation
participated in was a sedaka (feast of thanksgiving) offered
by the family of the former Grand Mufti of Turkmenistan,
Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah, in honor of his recent release from
prison. The event was held at the Council of Religious
Affairs -- of which Nasrullah has just become a member.
Nasrullah was not only in attendance at the feast, but also
was given a small speaking role during the meeting with the
Council. He was treated with tremendous deference by almost
everybody in attendance. When embassy officer leaned over
and whispered in the ear of one elder attending the event,
"Are you pleased with his release?" the old man grinned and
responded back, "You have no idea how pleased we are."

COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS: AN INSTRUCTIVE MEETING


9. (C) The two-hour session at the Council of Religious
Affairs was by far the toughest of the delegation's meetings.
After the members of the USCIRF delegation made their
initial points about the inclusion of the Ruhnama phrases in
the Gypjak mosque, the Grand Mufti responded by criticizing
the United States for not allowing calls to prayer -- or even
the ringing of church bells -- in many communities. He also
flatly rejected Imam Eid's suggestion that Turkmenistan was
doing anything against Shari'a law by allowing verses from
the Ruhnama inside Gypjak mosque. Father Sapunov (who serves
as Secretary of the Council) disputed the need to print
Bibles and other religious literature in Turkmenistan.
Deputy Chairman of the Council on Religious Affairs Gurbanov
jumped in and emphasized Turkmenistan's desire to correct any
human rights problems, and pointed out that one of the
biggest problems was a lack of understanding of the
non-traditional groups. The Adventists had sought to address
this problem by holding a very successful "Healthy
Lifestyles" exposition in Ashgabat. It was initiatives like
this that helped enhance public understanding of these groups
-- and cut down on problems the groups were experiencing.


10. (C) In a follow-up meeting August 28 with the Charge,
Foreign Minister Meredov reiterated points he and President
Berdimuhamedov had made to USCIRF. "We have made the
decision to change. When you become aware of problems, tell
us and we will resolve them. You understand conceptual
change will take a longer time to achieve. However, we are
committed to that change. In the meantime, we ask respect
from you and fairness."


11. (C) COMMENT: We believe that a few, like the president,
Foreign Minister Meredov and Gurbanov clearly understand the
need to make changes to the way the government deals with
religious groups and are committed to bringing that about.
However, the speed and degree of change will depend most of
all upon the ability of these individuals to gain buy-in from
those below, many of whom see the emergence of
non-traditional groups as a threat and/or competition.
Changing a deeply ingrained mind-set as a country begins to
emerge from absolutist control and pervasive fear will be a
very long process. In the coming years, the challenge for
the international community will be to find constructive ways
within this political culture to promote change, while
realizing that all change takes time.


12. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: The USCIRF delegation seemed to
agree that it visited Turkmenistan at the beginning of a
process of transition. While all members were keenly aware
of and concerned by the many problems still faced by
non-traditional religious communities, however, the

ASHGABAT 00000897 004 OF 004


willingness of Turkmenistan's government officials to meet
and discuss those problems is noteworthy. We hope that the
delegation's final report will reflect that development, as
well as constructively recommend areas for improvement. END
COMMENT.
HOAGLAND