IMAM OF THE KAABA CONDEMNS THE RED MOSQUE'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002468 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER PK SUBJECT: IMAM OF THE KAABA CONDEMNS THE RED MOSQUE'S LEADERSHIP REF: A. ISLAMABAD 2334 ¶B. ISLAMABAD 2270 ¶C. ISLAMABAD 1846 ¶D. ISLAMABAD 1688 ¶E. ISLAMABAD 1647 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter W. Bodde, reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Background: Reftels describe the situation at Islamabad's Red Mosque, where two imams have for several months been encouraging male and female madrassah students to engage in vigilante justice. The situation at the women's madrassah, which is located in the heart of Islamabad and is home to between 2,000 and 3,000 girls and women, has gained particularly profuse media attention. Reftels are being retransmitted to addressees not previously on distribution. End Background. ¶2. (C) On June 2, the Imam of the Kaaba Shaikh Abdur Rehman al-Sudais publicly appealed to the Red Mosque administration to cease illegal tactics. The remarks were made in Islamabad during the Imam's six-day tour of Pakistan. (Note: The Imam is the prayer leader at the holiest site in Islam, the Kaaba. End Note.) ¶2. (C) The Imam stressed that Islam does not allow mosques to be used for grandstanding. He characterized the Red Mosque's activities as leading to chaos and anarchy. The Imam stressed that the Red Mosque leadership should peacefully resolve grievances with the government, with city officials, and with religious scholars. He also condemned the Red Mosque brigade for using women and children in its actions. ¶3. (C) Both in his public statements and his well-attended Friday khutba (sermon) at Islamabad's huge Faisal Mosque, Shaikh al-Sudais called on the Muslim world to unite in eschewing extremism, sectarianism, and violence. He emphasized the Islamic principles of brotherhood, compassion, and consideration for others. ¶4. (C) In response, the Red Mosque leadership invited the Imam to visit their mosque and see their "realities". They claimed the government had misled him about their activities. Red Mosque leader Maulana Abdul Aziz also declared that the Imam was Amir-ul-Mumineen (leader of the faithful) and should replace President Musharraf. Shaikh al-Sudais did not visit the Red Mosque or meet with its leaders. ¶5. (C) Comment: President Musharraf and his advisors have a long-term strategy of turning public opinion against the Red Mosque's leaders and thus putting pressure on the Mosque to reform. The Imam-e-Kaaba's comments about the mosque appear to be part of Musharraf's plan to pressure the mosque to reform. Indeed, we note that Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhray Hussain Shujaat, the architect of the Red Mosque strategy, served as the Imam's host for much of the visit. End Comment BODDE