KARBALA: SERMON FOCUSED ON GOVERNMENT RESPONSIVENESS

UNCLAS HILLAH 000100 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV IZ PTER SUBJECT: KARBALA: SERMON FOCUSED ON GOVERNMENT RESPONSIVENESS REF: 000097 ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Karbala cable. ¶2. (U) Again this week Sayed Ahmed al-Safi, Head of the Al Abbas shrine office, conducted the Friday sermon at Karbala's al-Husain shrine. There is no official word about the absence of Sheikh Abdul Mehdi al-Karbalae at this time. This sermon focused on the role of honest press reporting, government officials extending the "green zone" to other parts of Baghdad and public access to the government. This was a quieter sermon than the last. Local media coverage included Karbala Radio, and the following television channels; Karbala, Al-Iraqya, Al-Furat, and Al-Salam. ¶3. (U) Al-Safi focused on security in and around Baghdad and the growing gap between government officials and the public they represent. He called for government officials to move out of the "green zone" and to move back to the neighborhoods in Baghdad. The security situation in Baghdad is not good, he highlighted, and that seven out of ten residents would echo that opinion. Al-Safi encouraged the government officials, probably referring to the elected officials, to move out of the international zone and back to the neighborhoods of Baghdad. He explained that the relocation would likely bring greater security to those neighborhoods. He also urged the media to report the truth, accusing them of being disorganized and unclear about their facts and unreliable as sources of information for the people. Lastly, al-Safi called for the government officials to get from behind their desks and the protection of their assistants to answer the hard questions directly and go into the field to see the people they represent. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: This sermon called the government officials to task on being accessible to the voting public. The portion about the media remains unclear; however it appears that al-Safi is calling on them to get their facts straight. Chatter among the congregation focused on a recent military operation in Karbala City and a noticeable increase in Iraqi Army presence at check points within the city and patrolling the streets. Regarding the absent al-Karbalae , rumor on the street says that he may be in Iran for medical treatment or meetings. 5.(SBU) Comment continued: PRT Karbala with the support of 3ID expects to start posting an electronic version of the audio portion of the sermons on Tuesdays (or when available) for those interested in hearing the original sermon. As soon as that is available the PRT and 3ID will make the website available.(End Comment) DONNALLY