EXTREMISTS ACCUSE HIGH-PROFILE SALAFI OF BEING AN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000575 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2017 TAGS: PGOV KISL PTER BA POL SUBJECT: EXTREMISTS ACCUSE HIGH-PROFILE SALAFI OF BEING AN INFIDEL Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . ¶1. (U) The previously unknown Supporters of the Caliphate group has accused Salafi leader and prominent member of parliament Adel Al Moawada of being an infidel. In early June, Al Moawada had publicly warned against the spread of "takfeer" ideology, the belief of some extremist Sunnis who consider anyone who does not agree with them to be an infidel and thus can be killed. The group distributed pamphlets in Muharraq during the June 15-16 weekend accusing Al Moawada of being an apostate and "idolater of cows." The group criticized Al Moawada for his "support for the political regime in Bahrain and his resistance to the ideology that claims all leaders in Islamic countries are infidels for failing to rule by God's will." ¶2. (U) Al Moawada fired back in his June 15 Friday prayer sermon, attacking the takfeerists and describing them as "ignorant and incapable of proper judgment." He stated that the (Sunni conservative) Salafi stream "is prominent for fighting the takfeer ideology" and warning of attempts by takfeerists to affiliate themselves with Salafis to gain status. He noted that Salafis had organized two seminars recently warning about those with "twisted ideas." ¶3. (U) Also addressing the issue, Sunni cleric Shaikh Salah Al Jowder said in his Friday sermon that it was unfortunate to see Muslims kill other Muslims in Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine. He criticized the takfeer ideology and said it was shameful that Al Moawada was called an unbeliever. ¶4. (U) In a statement to the press June 18, Al Moawada dismissed the threats against him, saying "I know who these people are and I am not afraid of them. I am not even afraid of them killing me because my greatest desire is to die a martyr." He continued, however, that he did not expect the extremists would go so far as to try to kill him. ¶5. (U) At the June 19 opening of a conference on "Islamic Rhetoric and the Safety of the Nation," Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa emphasized the importance of using the religious pulpit for promoting tolerance and moderation. Speakers at the conference called on Muslims to confront the takfeer ideology, which "inflicts divisions and raises differences" among Muslims. ¶6. (C) Comment: While being a committed Salafi and Islamist, Al Moawada has displayed flourishes of moderation, including by working occasionally with Shia MPs in parliament and publicly welcoming the Ambassador to his Ramadan majles. For the extremists, Al Moawada's acceptance and sometimes accommodation of diverse points of view apparently goes too far, leading them to turn against a fellow Sunni conservative. As a group, the Supporters of the Caliphate is unknown, but for members of the Sunni community, the individuals are likely known. It may be the case that this war of words reflects nothing more than tension and competition between rival factions vying for the support of their shared constituency. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE