Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD2468
2007-06-04 13:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
IMAM OF THE KAABA CONDEMNS THE RED MOSQUE'S
VZCZCXRO4433 PP RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #2468 1551346 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 041346Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9562 INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 3422 RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT PRIORITY 2507 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA PRIORITY 0174 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK PRIORITY 4220 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 1327 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2094 RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA PRIORITY 1423 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE PRIORITY RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 7156 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 8378 RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT PRIORITY 1497 RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA PRIORITY 0769 RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT PRIORITY 0331 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1062 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 5671 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT PRIORITY 3239 RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 1575 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 2663 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 6234 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 2505 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 0860 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 2419 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
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)
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
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