SCATTERED PROTESTS AND REPRISALS FOLLOWING SECOND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001990

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KISL IR
SUBJECT: SCATTERED PROTESTS AND REPRISALS FOLLOWING SECOND
SAMARRA BOMBING

REF: BAGHDAD 1955

Classified By: Political Counselor Margaret Scobey for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) Summary: So far, the response to the second bombing
of the holy Shia al-Askariya mosque in Samarra June 13 has
been restrained, compared to the first attack in February
2006, which sparked large-scale sectarian violence. However,
the violence following the first attack on Samarra did not
ignite immediately, meaning that the next days will continue
to be sensitive. According to press reports 14 Sunni mosques
have been damaged or destroyed since June 13, many in Basra.
Sadrist-instigated demonstrations occurred in Baghdad and
Najaf; On June 15 Muqtada al-Sadr called on Shia to march to
Samarra July 5 to protest the bombing. The statements by
political and religious authorities appealing to Iraqis to
remain calm and refrain for reprisals have remained
consistent and had an encouraging effect(reftel). Friday
sermons on June 15 echoed calls for restraint and warned
against the consequences of sectarian violence and civil war.
Representatives of Grand Ayatollah Sistani and ISCI head
Abdulaziz al-Hakim called on Shia not to fall into the
"takfiri-Saddamist trap," and blamed the GOI for ignoring
early warnings of the attack and failing to protect the holy
sites. Leading Shia also point to threats to shrines in
Karbala which they want the GoI to take seriously. They also
criticized U.S. forces for having a role in the attack and/or
for the deteriorating security situation in Iraq generally,
and called on the GOI to secure the road to Samarra and begin
reconstruction of the holy shrine. End Summary.

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Attacks on Sunni Mosques
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2. (SBU) According to press reports, a total of 14 Sunni
mosques have been attacked throughout Iraq since June 13.
Shortly after the, Sunni contacts in Basra reported random
demonstrations at Basra's second largest Sunni mosque. The
mosque appears to have been attacked by a mob; according to
local press four people were killed and a number injured.
Several other Sunni mosques in Basra were attacked June 13,
some reportedly with RPGs. On June 15, a bombing destroyed
the Talha bin Abd-allah mosque, also in Basra, but no
injuries were reported (the main gain was all that was left
standing). Prior to the imposition of the 3:00 p.m. Baghdad
curfew, three Sunni mosques in Baghdad were attacked on June
13 but according to media only one was partially destroyed.
Five attacks on Sunni mosques in Babil were reported
overnight June 13-14, including the Hattin mosque which
burned to the ground resulting in one death.

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Friday Sermons
--------------


3. (U) In his June 15 sermon, Sistani's representative in
Karbala Abdel Mehdi al-Karbala'i warned worshippers not to
allow their reactions to be "steered by emotions, or all
sides would be losers." Karbala'i urged all to respond to
the religious authorities call and be mindful of the
consequences of a sectarian war that would result in grievous
losses and paralyze the activities of daily life. Karbala'i
criticized the Iraqi government for not doing more to prevent
the destruction of the minarets, despite information that the
mosque was being targeted, and called for the GOI to
establish a timetable for securing the road to Samarra and
reconstructing the holy shrine. (Note: PM Maliki said a
contract for reconstructing the edifice was on the verge of
being signed when the bombing happened. End note.)


4. (U) In his Friday sermon in Najaf, ISCI cleric Nasser
al-Qubanji blamed "infiltrated" Iraqi security forces for
doing nothing to prevent the second Samarra attack, and
occupation forces for having helped increase the pace of
terrorism in Iraq "by freeing terrorists who were detained by
government forces." Al-Qubanji also lashed out at Iraqi's
Arab neighbors for "coddling terrorists and encouraging them
to thwart the Iraqi political project." Despite these
attacks, al-Qubanji ultimately blamed the Samarra attack on
forces that want to drag Shia into sectarian warfare, and
ended on a positive and democratic note, declaring, "We will
not be drawn in no matter what the terrorists try. The Iraqi
people have chosen a path from which there is no turning back
and are committed to participation by all."


5. (SBU) In a Sunni Baghdad mosque, Iraqi Islamic Party
(IIP) Imam Ahmad al-Ubaidi preached that Shi,a and Sunni
"must unite together." The time has come, Al-Ubaidi told
Sunni worshippers, for all Iraqi to unite and stop the

BAGHDAD 00001990 002 OF 002


killing and blood shed regardless of the sects. He said that
GOI Ministry of Interior forces were behind the Samarra
bombing for the purpose of building hatred against the
U.S.-Led Coalition Forces.

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Sadr Calls for July 5 March to Samarra
--------------


6. (U) Following Sadr's June 13 call for three days of
peaceful demonstrations and "sit-ins," there have been almost
constant demonstrations in Najaf, as well as some in
Baghdad's Sadr City, and al-Hillah. On June 16,
anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for a march to
Sammara July 5 in protest of the June 13 bombing. He
criticized Iraqi political parties, including his own, for
failing to react more strongly to the Samarra bombing
perpetrated by the "triangle of evil," the U.S., Britain and
Israel, asking, "Where are you Badrists, Sadrists,
Fadhillas?" Because Samarra is located in the predominantly
Sunni Salaheddin Province, Sadr urged Sunnis there to welcome
Shia marchers with open arms on July 5.


7. (C) Comment: Despite sporatic demonstrations and attacks
on Sunni mosques, the nation-wide reaction to the June 13
bombing has been relatively tame so far, however we should
point out that the violence following the first attack took
several and weeks to develop. In June 15 Friday sermons,
Shia clerics called for quick reconstruction of the mosque, a
move which would likely help maintain the calm so far
witnessed as well and encourage the continued positive
position of the Najaf authorities. PM Maliki's initial moves
to visit the Shrine shortly after the bombing, and his
announcement of GOI investigation into the role of Ministry
of Interior police in the attack have helped keep Shia
emotions in check. GOI follow through on this, security in
road to Samarra, and reconstruction efforts in the short run
will be important to maintaining the support of Shia
political figures and the Marja'iya in calling for unity and
restraint. With Samarra located within the predominantly
Sunni Salahaddine province, Sadr's July 5 Shia Shia march to
Samarra will also be a test for Iraqi sectarian restraint.
End Comment.
CROCKER