ISLAMIC MOVEMENT OF KURDISTAN PARTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001969 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2017 TAGS: PREF PGOV IZ SUBJECT: ISLAMIC MOVEMENT OF KURDISTAN PARTY Classified By: Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Robert Gilchri st for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). This is a Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) Cable. ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Islamic Movement of Kurdistan (IMK) members told RRT Erbil they seek consistent dialogue with the US, recognition and funding from the two dominant political parties of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG),and representation in the Kurdistan National Assembly (KNA). Weakened financially, excluded politically, IMK is attempting to reintegrate into Iraqi Kurdistan politics as a credible minority party but must first clear its name of any Al-Qaeda affiliation. IMK leaders want a multi-party meeting, to include participation from the RRT. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On May 20 in Sulaimaniyah, RRTOff met with IMK Sulaimaniyah Bureau leaders Muhamed Omer Abulaziz, Head of Public Relations, Haji Answar Ahmed, Organizational Division of the Politburo, and Abdul Rahman Muhamed, Chief of Leadership Committee. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Abdul Rahman Muhamed told RRTOff that the IMK was founded secretly in 1978 but announced publicly in 1987. Sheik Uthman Abd Al-Aziz and other Sunni religious judges led this Islamic movement that was centered in Halabja, Sulaimaniyah Province near the Iranian border. The IMK leader, Mullah Ali Abd Al-Aziz Halabji, recently deceased, supported a federal Iraq and renamed the party "Islamic Movement in Kurdistan ) Iraq." IMK activities include providing assistance to the poor, guidance on Islamic beliefs and practices, sports activities for the youth, and educational programs to promote ethics and community service. IMK has political and media centers in Erbil, Sulaimaniyah city, Halabja, and Baghdad. There are IMK representative offices in London, Syria, and Iran. -------------- NO IMK LEADER -------------- ¶4. (C) To replace Mullah Ali Abd Al-Aziz Halabji who died in London on March 17, 2007, IMK members said they will hold a conference with the party's members. The IMK politburo will then meet and later confer with the different IMK's counselors working on regulation, public relations, information, social affairs, and general party matters, to come to a consensus. -------------- IMK AND THE KRG -------------- ¶5. (C) The IMK members summarized to RRTOff their party's engagement in the KRG: -- In 1992 IMK participated in Kurdish parliamentary elections and won five percent of the votes but did not obtain a seat in the KNA. -- From 1995 to 1997, the IMK held two ministerial positions (Agriculture and Justice) in the Iraqi Kurdistan unified government in Erbil. -- From 1997 to 2003, after the split between Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK),IMK had several positions in the PUK-dominated administration in Sulaimaniyah Province. -- Since 2003, IMK has been excluded from the KRG government and cut off from financial support from the PUK which it received from 1997 to 2003. -- In 2003, the IMK also demilitarized and turned in its weapons to the Iraqi police. -- In 2005 Kurdish legislative elections, the IMK tried to be integrated into KDP and PUK lists but failed. It obtained 80,200 votes and no seats in the KNA. -------------- POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL EXCLUSION -------------- ¶6. (C) IMK members complained to RRTOff of their exclusion from political party meetings in Sulaimaniyah Province, KRG funding, and representation in the KNA, unlike other minority parties such as the Socialist Party and the Toilers Party. IMK said the PUK and KDP told them that the Americans BAGHDAD 00001969 002 OF 002 instructed the two dominant Kurdish parties to cut off KRG financing to the IMK. ¶7. (C) Support for the IMK comes from the people in the lower socio-economic brackets, IMK members stated. They remarked IMK funding also comes from merchants, large donors, private parties, and zaqat (religious tax). They believe, however, the IMK is entitled to KRG funding. IMK members said that they receive no funding from foreign countries, including Iran or Syria. (Note: It is highly unlikely this is true.) ¶8. (C) IMK members pointed to other forms of exclusion such as denial of government jobs. They said the IMK sent in application letters for 1,500 IMK laborers which have not been approved. IMK members also noted that some of its members have been arrested and detained without charges by the PUK intelligence service. They said they attempted to dialogue with the PUK leadership but have been ignored. -------------- MORE DIALOGUE WITH THE US AND KRG -------------- ¶9. (C) IMK expressed its desire for increased contact with the USG which would improve its standing with the Sulaimaniyah provincial government, the KDP and PUK, and the KRG. IMK members assured RRTOff that time will demonstrate their credibility as a stable political party. ¶10. (C) IMK members asked RRTOff to support a multi-party conference in Sulaimaniyah Province which would include the IMK. IMK members did not give a specific agenda but seek coordination and support from both the KDP and PUK. They also requested to meet with KRG representatives and US Embassy officials to "end all misunderstandings" regarding their political engagements. IMK members said its name continues to be wrongly identified with groups carrying out terrorist acts. (Note: According to various sources and press accounts, Al-Qaeda affiliated groups -- Ansar Al-Islam, Jund Al-Islam, and Kurdistan Brigades are in part formed from previous IMK members.) -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶11. (C) The IMK is financially and politically weakened and is now attempting to reintegrate itself as a minority party in Iraqi Kurdistan politics. To do so it must clear its name of any Al-Qaeda affiliation. It is difficult to verify and measure IMK's recent role and influence within insurgent groups in Sulaimaniyah Province. It is equally unclear where IMK will turn to in the future for financial assistance if the PUK and KDP continue to refuse IMK's rapprochement attempt. ¶12. (C) RRTOff supports increased dialogue among moderate Kurdish majority and minority political parties to promote openness in the political system. However, IMK has been linked in the past to Al-Qaeda, and it is difficult to ascertain the party's current relationship with its splinter groups in Sulaimaniyah Province. A multi-party conference in Sulaimaniyah Province including the IMK would likely elicit resistance by the PUK which is determined to maintain domination of political life in the province. CROCKER