Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD2829
2007-06-26 08:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
THE RED MOSQUE STRIKES AGAIN: MASSAGE PARLORS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002829
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: THE RED MOSQUE STRIKES AGAIN: MASSAGE PARLORS
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 2468
B. ISLAMABAD 2334
C. ISLAMABAD 2270
D. ISLAMABAD 1846
E. ISLAMABAD 1688
F. ISLAMABAD 1647
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Peter Bodde, reasons 1.4 (b),(
d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002829
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: THE RED MOSQUE STRIKES AGAIN: MASSAGE PARLORS
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 2468
B. ISLAMABAD 2334
C. ISLAMABAD 2270
D. ISLAMABAD 1846
E. ISLAMABAD 1688
F. ISLAMABAD 1647
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Peter Bodde, reasons 1.4 (b),(
d)
1. (C) Summary: On June 23, students from men's and women's
madrassahs associated with the Red Mosque kidnapped nine
individuals, including six Chinese nationals, from a local
massage parlor. The hostages were released sixteen hours
later. The incident has embarrassed the Interior Minister,
who on June 24 began an official visit to China. End Summary.
2. (C) In the middle of the night on June 23, students from
the men's and women's madrassahs affiliated with the Red
Mosque kidnapped nine persons, including six Chinese
nationals, from a well-known Islambad brothel fronting as a
Chinese accupuncture clinic and massage parlor. The six
Chinese included five women and reportedly some Pakistani
customers. As during an incident in early March, when women
from the madrassah kidnapped a number of prostitutes from
another well known brothel, the Red Mosque claimed it acted
against the brothel after neighbors complained about the
facility.
3. (C) Embassy contacts report that the weekend's activities
embarrassed the Interior Minister, who departed June 24 for a
five day official visit to China. The embarrassment seems to
have spurred a quick resolution; the hostages were released
after 16 hours -- faster than after previous incidents. At a
press conference after the release, Red Mosque leader Maulana
Abdul Rashid Ghazi said that the students had freed the
individuals in view of the friendly ties between Pakistan and
China and because of government assurances that all brothels
would be shut down. Maulana Ghazi warned the local
administration that the Red Mosque could take similar action
against other massage centers being used as brothels.
4.(C) COMMENT: Most Muslim leaders in Pakistan continue to
publicly deplore the Red Mosque's actions. Nevertheless, the
lack of police action against brothels, even after neighbors
complain vociferously, leaves a vacuum into which some
religious extremists are prone to walk.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: THE RED MOSQUE STRIKES AGAIN: MASSAGE PARLORS
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 2468
B. ISLAMABAD 2334
C. ISLAMABAD 2270
D. ISLAMABAD 1846
E. ISLAMABAD 1688
F. ISLAMABAD 1647
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Peter Bodde, reasons 1.4 (b),(
d)
1. (C) Summary: On June 23, students from men's and women's
madrassahs associated with the Red Mosque kidnapped nine
individuals, including six Chinese nationals, from a local
massage parlor. The hostages were released sixteen hours
later. The incident has embarrassed the Interior Minister,
who on June 24 began an official visit to China. End Summary.
2. (C) In the middle of the night on June 23, students from
the men's and women's madrassahs affiliated with the Red
Mosque kidnapped nine persons, including six Chinese
nationals, from a well-known Islambad brothel fronting as a
Chinese accupuncture clinic and massage parlor. The six
Chinese included five women and reportedly some Pakistani
customers. As during an incident in early March, when women
from the madrassah kidnapped a number of prostitutes from
another well known brothel, the Red Mosque claimed it acted
against the brothel after neighbors complained about the
facility.
3. (C) Embassy contacts report that the weekend's activities
embarrassed the Interior Minister, who departed June 24 for a
five day official visit to China. The embarrassment seems to
have spurred a quick resolution; the hostages were released
after 16 hours -- faster than after previous incidents. At a
press conference after the release, Red Mosque leader Maulana
Abdul Rashid Ghazi said that the students had freed the
individuals in view of the friendly ties between Pakistan and
China and because of government assurances that all brothels
would be shut down. Maulana Ghazi warned the local
administration that the Red Mosque could take similar action
against other massage centers being used as brothels.
4.(C) COMMENT: Most Muslim leaders in Pakistan continue to
publicly deplore the Red Mosque's actions. Nevertheless, the
lack of police action against brothels, even after neighbors
complain vociferously, leaves a vacuum into which some
religious extremists are prone to walk.
PATTERSON