Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUWAIT146
2007-01-31 14:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAITI SHIA MARK ASHOURA PEACEFULLY THOUGH
how-toVZCZCXRO3700 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #0146 0311428 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 311428Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8181 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000146
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KISL KIRF KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITI SHIA MARK ASHOURA PEACEFULLY THOUGH
GOVERNMENT PREVENTS MARCHES
REF: A. 06 KUWAIT 493
B. 05 KUWAIT 766
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000146
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KISL KIRF KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITI SHIA MARK ASHOURA PEACEFULLY THOUGH
GOVERNMENT PREVENTS MARCHES
REF: A. 06 KUWAIT 493
B. 05 KUWAIT 766
1. (SBU) Kuwaiti Shia celebrated Ashoura on January 30 and
31 in Shia neighborhoods and at husseiniyas (Shia diwaniyyas)
around Kuwait City. The celebrations included chanting and
self-flagellation and gatherings at husseiniyas where clerics
gave sermons focusing on the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the
Prophet Muhammad's grandson. No significant security
incidents were reported.
2. (SBU) With regional tensions high, and amid loud
warnings from local Salafi groups, the GOK took steps to
lower the public profile of Ashoura commemorations. In the
heavily Shia and Iranian Rumaithiyya neighborhood of Kuwait
City, the Ministry of Interior (MOI) barred the kind of
Ashoura marches that take place around the Shia world and
which have been permitted in previous years in Kuwait. MOI
officials told the press that the denial of permission was
meant to preserve the security of the "citizens and residents
of Kuwait." The MOI said it had positioned 150 officers and
smaller numbers of special forces in Rumaithiyya and other
neighborhoods to guard against potential problems. Shia were
allowed to walk freely in Shia neighborhoods to visit
husseiniyyas and to observe their Ashoura custom of
distributing cold drinks to passersby.
3. (SBU) An Embassy contact told PolOffs at an
English-language husseiniyya on the evening of January 30
that the MOI had made it known that public reenactments of
the battle of Karbala would not be allowed. He said this was
unfortunate and attributed the restriction to the growing
influence of "extremists." He conceded that the Government
did not interfere with reenactments inside husseiniyyas.
Public reenactments have been forbidden on occasion in the
past, with control being more strict in times of heightened
sectarian tensions, such as during the Iran-Iraq war.
4. (SBU) Comment: The Kuwaiti media has been filled in
recent days with sharp exchanges between Shia leaders and
Sunni Salafis. Many commentators, and the Kuwaiti Amir
himself, have responded with calls to resist sectarian
strife. Although there was some grumbling among Shia about
restrictions on their marches and reenactments, in the end
there were few signs these rising tensions had gone beyond
the level of rhetoric.
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
*********************************************
TUELLER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KISL KIRF KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITI SHIA MARK ASHOURA PEACEFULLY THOUGH
GOVERNMENT PREVENTS MARCHES
REF: A. 06 KUWAIT 493
B. 05 KUWAIT 766
1. (SBU) Kuwaiti Shia celebrated Ashoura on January 30 and
31 in Shia neighborhoods and at husseiniyas (Shia diwaniyyas)
around Kuwait City. The celebrations included chanting and
self-flagellation and gatherings at husseiniyas where clerics
gave sermons focusing on the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the
Prophet Muhammad's grandson. No significant security
incidents were reported.
2. (SBU) With regional tensions high, and amid loud
warnings from local Salafi groups, the GOK took steps to
lower the public profile of Ashoura commemorations. In the
heavily Shia and Iranian Rumaithiyya neighborhood of Kuwait
City, the Ministry of Interior (MOI) barred the kind of
Ashoura marches that take place around the Shia world and
which have been permitted in previous years in Kuwait. MOI
officials told the press that the denial of permission was
meant to preserve the security of the "citizens and residents
of Kuwait." The MOI said it had positioned 150 officers and
smaller numbers of special forces in Rumaithiyya and other
neighborhoods to guard against potential problems. Shia were
allowed to walk freely in Shia neighborhoods to visit
husseiniyyas and to observe their Ashoura custom of
distributing cold drinks to passersby.
3. (SBU) An Embassy contact told PolOffs at an
English-language husseiniyya on the evening of January 30
that the MOI had made it known that public reenactments of
the battle of Karbala would not be allowed. He said this was
unfortunate and attributed the restriction to the growing
influence of "extremists." He conceded that the Government
did not interfere with reenactments inside husseiniyyas.
Public reenactments have been forbidden on occasion in the
past, with control being more strict in times of heightened
sectarian tensions, such as during the Iran-Iraq war.
4. (SBU) Comment: The Kuwaiti media has been filled in
recent days with sharp exchanges between Shia leaders and
Sunni Salafis. Many commentators, and the Kuwaiti Amir
himself, have responded with calls to resist sectarian
strife. Although there was some grumbling among Shia about
restrictions on their marches and reenactments, in the end
there were few signs these rising tensions had gone beyond
the level of rhetoric.
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
*********************************************
TUELLER