ISLAMIC RADICALS BLOCKS AMERICAN MUSLIMS FROM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DAR ES SALAAM 000894

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SIPDIS

DEPT AF/E FOR BYODER, AF/RSA FOR MBITTRICK, MHARPOLE
ALSO DEPT S/CT FOR BPHIPPS AND FOR DRL
ADDIS ABABA FOR AU MISSION
LONDON, PARIS, GENEVA FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR TZ IR
SUBJECT: ISLAMIC RADICALS BLOCKS AMERICAN MUSLIMS FROM
EVENING PRAYERS

REF: DAR ES SALAAM 0867

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, D. Purnell Delly for reasons 1.
2 (b,d).

SUMMARY
--------------

1. (C) American Muslims visiting Tanzania from May 27-31 as
part of the Citizen Dialogue Program (reftel) were
surprisingly refused entry to a mosque in downtown Dar es
Salaam. As the American visitors arrived for evening
prayers, a group of about 30 men congregated at the mosque's
gate to block an Embassy vehicle from entering inside. The
crowd shouted in Swahili, protesting that the visitors were
from America. The crowd did not appear to gather
spontaneously but rather seemed to be organized with a plan
to block the gate. According to more moderate Muslim leaders
in Dar es Salaam who met with EmbOffs June 7, "radical youth"
and possibly Iranian-backed radical Muslims from other
mosques were responsible for the incident. The moderate
leaders highlighted the rise of Shia and Iranian influence
among Tanzanian Muslims, noting that although Wahhabism
exists in Tanzania, it was Shia influence responsible for the
unwelcome reception. END SUMMARY.

Mosque Refuses Entry to American Muslims
--------------

2. (SBU) On May 27, the first day of post's Citizen Dialogue
Program (CDP),visiting Muslim scholars Tiye Mulazim, Na'eel
Cajee, and Imam Bashar Mohammed Arafat were scheduled to pray
at Kichangani mosque in Dar es Salaam at 6:00 pm. One week
in advance, the APAO coordinated with Assistant Imam Jaffar
Mohamed of Kichangani mosque who had readily agreed to
welcome the American visitors for evening prayers and in
fact, invited Imam Bashar to lead prayers and speak with
members that evening. However, as two Embassy vehicles
waited in the mosque's parking lot, an angry group of about
thirty men gathered at the mosque's gate, refusing to allow
the third Embassy vehicle to enter.


3. (SBU) Fifteen minutes of discussion failed to persuade
the crowd to permit the Embassy vehicle to enter inside the
gate. Avoiding further confrontation with the protesters,
Embassy officials left Kichangani mosque with the delegation.
As the Embassy vehicles departed, the crowd shouted "Takbir
Allahu Akbar" (God is the greatest). (Note: Takbir Allahu
Akbar is an Arabic expression often used to signal a sense of
victory or applause.) The delegation proceeded to a nearby
mosque in downtown Dar es Salaam where they were warmly
welcomed for evening prayers without any incident. The
remaining four days of the CDP's visit, also went without
incident and generated a great deal of dialogue between
Muslim Tanzanians and the American scholars.


4. (SBU) It is unclear whether the Assistant Imam of the
Kichangani mosque, Imam Mohammed, who agreed to host the CDP
delegates was present on May 27 or not. A few days later,
however, Imam Mohammed sent a message to the PAO apologizing
for the situation and asking to meet the CDP visitors at a
later date. The Head Imam of Kichangani mosque was traveling
outside of Dar es Salaam during the incident and did not
provide any comment.

Radical Youth Vent Anger About U.S. Policy
--------------

5. (C) To gain a better understanding of the incident at
Kichangani mosque, EmbOffs met with Sheik Issa Othman of
Mikocheni B, one of Dar es Salaam's largest mosques, and
Hassan Mnyenye, Chief Executive Officer of the Mwinyibaraka
Islamic Foundation on June 7. Asked why followers of the
mosque objected to Assistant Imam's decision to invite the
American Muslims to pray, Sheik Othman explained that the
group blockading the gate was comprised of younger radical
members who he called "fanatics." He noted that the crowd
was trying to take advantage of the U.S. delegation's visit

DAR ES SAL 00000894 002 OF 003


to vent their anger and frustration at USG policy.


6. (C) Without speculating on why the mosque's Assistant Imam
did not rein in the protesting crowd on May 27, Sheik Othman
said that in Tanzania it was common for young Muslims to use
their strength in numbers and pressure older Imams: "They use
democracy within the mosques as a way to get their views
heard, sometimes even threatening older imams that they will
kick them out if their views are not considered." Sheik
Othman said he believed that followers of the Kichangani
mosque were aware of the U.S. visit in advance thus giving
more extreme members of the Dar es Salaam Muslim community
time to organize a protest and gain media attention.

Rise of Shia Influence: Shia for All
--------------

7. (C) Addressing the issue of extremism among Muslim youth
in Tanzania, Sheik Othman stressed the rise of Shia influence
in both rural and urban areas throughout the country. Hassan
Mnyenye of the Islamic Foundation, who accompanied Othman
explained: "It used to be that Shia were only the Asians in
Tanzania. Now it is Shia for all!" The notion of a black or
"African Shia," is a relatively new phenomenon, beginning in
the 1990s with the rise of Ayatollah Khomeini, Sheik Othman
noted. He added, "Before Khomeini, the Shia were like Jews.
They didn't preach and they kept to themselves. This all
changed with Khomeini." Another source close to PAO staff
also reported that the blockade at Kichangani was a result of
Iranian Shia influence.


8. (C) Sheik Othman noted that the Shia managed to spread
their influence "not by talking or preaching but by doing."
Shia followers are running schools, health clinics,
orphanages, and cultural centers, helping the poor solve
their problems. A poor Muslim in Dar es Salaam can got to
the Iranian Cultural Center seeking help, the Sheik
explained. Asked if the Shia influence was primarily
concentrated in Dar es Salaam, both Mnyenye and Sheik Othman
emphasized that the Shia influence permeated all parts of the
country including Morogoro, Iringa and Tanga. "In fact,
Sunni clerics prefer Dar es Salaam where life is convenient.
Thus Shia influence has been able to rise in areas outside
Dar es Salaam more quickly," Sheik Othman told PolOff.


9. (C) Sheik Othman clarified that the Shia were not openly
trying to persuade Sunnis to join their mosques and convert:
"Rather, Shia are praying at Sunni mosques and trying to
exert influence through 'takia,' a Shia strategy where one
hides his/her beliefs to achieve a certain end." According
to Sheik Othman, Shia will frequent Sunni mosques concealing
the fact that they are Shia and try to influence followers of
the mosque to hold more extreme viewpoints. Mnyenye added,
"Many Sunni imams and followers are afraid of this Shia
influence but they don't know what to do. The National
Council of Tanzanian Muslims, BAKWATA, has done absolutely
nothing to deal with the problem." (Note: BAKWATA is the
official GOT organization handling Islamic affairs on the
mainland.)


10. (C) Sheik Othman expressed his personal view that the
rise of Shia influence in Tanzania reflects Tehran's policy
to gain support through religion. While few Tanzanians
actually travel to Iran, the Sheik said Iran managed to bring
its influence to Tanzania through Shia organizations and Shia
followers. He did note that every year the Iranian Cultural
Center in Dar es Salaam holds a Koranic recitation contest
for Muslim students, sponsoring the three best students to
travel to Iran for religious studies.

What About Wahhabism?
--------------

11. (C) According to Sheik Othman, Wahhabism does exist in
Tanzania but is not on the rise as much as the Shiism. He
said that Wahhabism spread to Tanzania from Saudi Arabia and
from Somalis who came to Tanzania to conduct business. He

DAR ES SAL 00000894 003 OF 003


identified both Tanga and Iringa as regions are there was
some Wahhabi influence and mentioned the Nurain Institute in
Iringa as a school with Wahhabi influence. "The Nurain
institute used to be isolated and relatively closed, but it
is now opening up," the Sheik said.

Comment: Importance of Sustained Islamic Outreach
-------------- --------------

12. (C) The crowd blockading the Kichangani mosque underlined
the fact that an extreme brand of Islam does exist in
Tanzania, espousing the unfortunate view that
anti-Americanism is somehow essential to being Muslim.
Moderate Muslims such as Sheik Othman, and even the Assistant
Imam Jaffar of Kichangani mosque, appear to be at odds or at
least uncomfortable with this extremism and unsure how to
proceed. Sheik Othman encouraged the Embassy to increase
collaboration with various Muslim organizations and increase
dialogue to promote increased mutual understanding. In line
with our FY 2009 Mission Strategic Plan, Post has undertaken
a coordinated, multi-agency effort over the past six months
to scale up Muslim outreach efforts along the Swahili Coast.
The Citizen Dialogue Program, including the incident at
Kichangani mosque, only reinforced the importance of our
sustained outreach to promote religious tolerance and
understanding between the U.S. and Tanzania's Muslims. END
COMMENT.
RETZER