CHAD'S GRAND IMAM REQUESTS HELP TO INVESTIGATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L NDJAMENA 000149 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C, EB/ESC/TFS, S/CT (NELSON) E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2017 TAGS: KTFN CD PGOV PREL SUBJECT: CHAD'S GRAND IMAM REQUESTS HELP TO INVESTIGATE TERRORISM FINANCING REF: NDJAMENA 00130 Classified By: PAO Arthur Bell for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Post calls attention to the following request from Chad's Grand Imam, Sheikh Hissein Hassan Abakar, conveyed in a February 7 meeting with the Ambassador (reftel). In the meeting, Abakar requested assistance from Post and the USG to investigate and interdict possible terrorist and extremist financing in Chad. The Grand Imam named a prominent Chadian Muslim leader, Dr. Ahmat Mahamat Haggar, as a primary conduit for funds from at least two individual Saudis -- Khaled al-Touwil and Saleh bin Omar Badahdouh -- and from the World Association of Muslim Youth (WAMY). In addition to WAMY, the Imam also named three organizations that have been attempting, for some time, to bring extremist Islamic ideologies and practices to Chad: 1) the Two Holy Mosques Foundation; 2) the "Mecca Mukarama" Foundation; and 3) the Islamic Forum. Dr. Haggar, who has served as president of the Chadian branch of Ansar Al-Sunna, operates an Arabic-language radio station and a newspaper, and is also active in promoting a network of Islamic schools and mosques in Chad, especially in N'Djamena and Moussoro (NOTE: Haggar is an ethnic Kreda from the Moussoro region. END NOTE),but also in the southern cities of Pala, Bongor, and Bebidja. Haggar is reported to operate a large Muslim student dormitory in N'Djamena called the 'Foyer des Etudiants.' ¶2. (C) Comment: Post notes that Government of Chad security and intelligence services are among the appropriate partners in investigating and interdicting terrorism financing, not a religious leader such as the Grand Imam. At the same time, Post judges the Imam's request to be well-informed and worth passing on. The Imam has long been a voice for moderation and religious tolerance in Chad and is a close contact of the Embassy, always ready to lend his strong support to Post's Muslim Outreach programs. WALL