Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT171
2008-02-04 12:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: SELF-FINANCING TURKMEN ABLE TO
how-toVZCZCXRO8826 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0171/01 0351214 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 041214Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0201 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 3332 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1148 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 0169 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1017 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 1586 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 0063 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1385 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2178 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000171
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KIRF KISL SA TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: SELF-FINANCING TURKMEN ABLE TO
TRAVEL ON THE HAJJ
REF: OSC:CEP20071219950084
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000171
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KIRF KISL SA TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: SELF-FINANCING TURKMEN ABLE TO
TRAVEL ON THE HAJJ
REF: OSC:CEP20071219950084
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Post attempted to verify a December 2007
Forum18 news article (reported in ref by Turkmen opposition
website "Gundogar") about the restrictions the government
allegedly imposed on those wishing to go on the Hajj. While
post has been unable to ascertain from the Saudi embassy in
Ashgabat or through Consulate General Jeddah's sources the
exact number of pilgrims who traveled from Turkmenistan in
2007, post has found strong anecdotal evidence that, in
addition to the single plane of 188 government-sponsored
pilgrims, as many as 1,000 self-financing pilgrims may have
gone (out of a Saudi allotment of about 4,000 spaces),likely
with government authorization. END SUMMARY.
3. (U) A Forum18 news article posted on the Internet on
December 14 reported that the government-sponsored charter
flight of 188 pilgrims departed Ashgabat for Abu Dhabi and
then Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on December 6. The article stated
that this was the only group of pilgrims that Turkmenistan's
government had allowed to perform the Hajj in 2007. The
article also indicated that the pilgrims had been approved by
the Council on Religious Affairs, local government, and the
country's security service. State-controlled Turkmen press
also noted the departure and return of the 188 "official"
Hajj pilgrims from Turkmenistan.
ANECDOTAL STORIES OF OTHER, SELF-FINANCED PILGRIMS
4. (SBU) However, a local staff member has reported that a
female acquaintance left on a commercial flight that was
carrying pilgrims on December 13, and that the woman paid for
her own flight, which would seem to contradict the claim that
only the 188 Turkmen on the charter flight were permitted to
travel. It is unclear whether the second aircraft was a
Turkmen Air flight.
5. (SBU) On January 25, AID representatives met with the
head of a parliamentary commission, who proudly pointed to
the skullcap on his head and said he had just returned from
the Hajj. He claimed that 1,000 Turkmen had gone on Hajj in
2007, including three parliamentary officials. He said that
as official government representatives in the group, the
three parliamentary officials had been able to meet the Saudi
king. However, later official press statements only reported
on the travel of the 188 Hajjis, whose trip was financed by
the Turkmenistan government.
SAUDIS UNWILLING TO DISCUSS THE HAJJ
6. (SBU) Post repeatedly attempted to meet with Saudi
diplomats in Ashgabat to shed light on the number of Hajj
visas they may have issued or the number of Turkmen pilgrims
they might have been aware of, but they refused to meet with
us at any level. (NOTE: The Saudis may be reluctant to
share sensitive information that they feel could potentially
embarrass the Turkmen government. END NOTE.)
GOING ON PILGRIMAGE REMAINS A CHALLENGE
7. (SBU) There are several logistical realities that impact
how local Muslims plan a pilgrimage, and they represent
additional, external hurdles for potential Turkmen pilgrims.
First, according to the Saudi Hajj Ministry website, to go on
the Hajj, prospective pilgrims must procure a special Hajj
visa from a Saudi-approved Hajj travel agency. Saudi law
requires that all pilgrims arrange their travel through these
officially-approved Hajj travel agencies, which are
authorized to organize travel and accommodations for pilgrims
ASHGABAT 00000171 002 OF 002
through the appropriate ministries in Saudi Arabia. There
are no such approved travel agencies in Turkmenistan,
although there is a Saudi embassy. Therefore, any Saudi hajj
visa, beyond those procured for pilgrims on a
government-sanctioned flight, would either have to be
procured abroad, or through special arrangements.
8. (SBU) All travelers, as well, must enter the country for
pilgrimage via Jeddah, according to the official hajj
website. Standard flight options for getting Turkmen
citizens to Saudi Arabia, however, are very limited. There
are flights from Ashgabat to Abu Dhabi and Istanbul via
either Turkish Air or Turkmen Air, from whence travelers can
take other airlines to Jeddah. Currently there are eleven
flights per week to Istanbul, a popular route for shuttle
traders and international business people. The high cost of
international flight beyond those two airlines, however,
would limit hajj travel to wealthy Turkmen. (NOTE: Turkmen
citizens enjoy special low fares on Turkmen Air as well as
Turkish Air flights. Standard international fares would be
out of the average citizen's reach. END NOTE.)
9. (SBU) The quota for hajj pilgrims from Turkmenistan is
currently about 4,400. This number is derived from Saudi
Arabian government information on its official website that
reports the Muslim population in Turkmenistan at about
4,407,000, with a total population estimate of 4,952,081.
(NOTE: This is one of many estimates. A census has not been
conducted in Turkmenistan since 1989. END NOTE.) The quota
provides for the travel of 1,000 pilgrims for every one
million people in a Muslim country. It is unclear whether
the quota is established by calculating 1,000 pilgrims per
every 1 million Muslims, or 1,000 per every 1 million people
in a Muslim country.
TURKISH CITIZENS MAY BE ASSISTING PILGRIMS
10. (SBU) Post has learned from several sources including
the Turkish ambassador that there may be Turkish citizens
living in Turkmenistan who help Turkmen citizens to go on
hajj. Local employees report that many Turkish citizens who
live and work here, including business people, are encouraged
to maintain their Islamic traditions, go to mosque, and
assist devout Turkmen.
11. (SBU) COMMENT: While the difficulties that would-be
pilgrims face would seem to argue in favor of a smaller
number of pilgrims than the 1,000 that our parliamentary
contact claimed, post believes that, based on the anecdotal
stories it has heard, the government is in fact allowing
pilgrims that can afford it and (possibly) have connections
to finance their own way, as it promised the U.S. Commission
on International Religious Freedom last August. The
oft-quoted number of 188 is simply the number that the
Government officially sponsors. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KIRF KISL SA TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: SELF-FINANCING TURKMEN ABLE TO
TRAVEL ON THE HAJJ
REF: OSC:CEP20071219950084
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Post attempted to verify a December 2007
Forum18 news article (reported in ref by Turkmen opposition
website "Gundogar") about the restrictions the government
allegedly imposed on those wishing to go on the Hajj. While
post has been unable to ascertain from the Saudi embassy in
Ashgabat or through Consulate General Jeddah's sources the
exact number of pilgrims who traveled from Turkmenistan in
2007, post has found strong anecdotal evidence that, in
addition to the single plane of 188 government-sponsored
pilgrims, as many as 1,000 self-financing pilgrims may have
gone (out of a Saudi allotment of about 4,000 spaces),likely
with government authorization. END SUMMARY.
3. (U) A Forum18 news article posted on the Internet on
December 14 reported that the government-sponsored charter
flight of 188 pilgrims departed Ashgabat for Abu Dhabi and
then Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on December 6. The article stated
that this was the only group of pilgrims that Turkmenistan's
government had allowed to perform the Hajj in 2007. The
article also indicated that the pilgrims had been approved by
the Council on Religious Affairs, local government, and the
country's security service. State-controlled Turkmen press
also noted the departure and return of the 188 "official"
Hajj pilgrims from Turkmenistan.
ANECDOTAL STORIES OF OTHER, SELF-FINANCED PILGRIMS
4. (SBU) However, a local staff member has reported that a
female acquaintance left on a commercial flight that was
carrying pilgrims on December 13, and that the woman paid for
her own flight, which would seem to contradict the claim that
only the 188 Turkmen on the charter flight were permitted to
travel. It is unclear whether the second aircraft was a
Turkmen Air flight.
5. (SBU) On January 25, AID representatives met with the
head of a parliamentary commission, who proudly pointed to
the skullcap on his head and said he had just returned from
the Hajj. He claimed that 1,000 Turkmen had gone on Hajj in
2007, including three parliamentary officials. He said that
as official government representatives in the group, the
three parliamentary officials had been able to meet the Saudi
king. However, later official press statements only reported
on the travel of the 188 Hajjis, whose trip was financed by
the Turkmenistan government.
SAUDIS UNWILLING TO DISCUSS THE HAJJ
6. (SBU) Post repeatedly attempted to meet with Saudi
diplomats in Ashgabat to shed light on the number of Hajj
visas they may have issued or the number of Turkmen pilgrims
they might have been aware of, but they refused to meet with
us at any level. (NOTE: The Saudis may be reluctant to
share sensitive information that they feel could potentially
embarrass the Turkmen government. END NOTE.)
GOING ON PILGRIMAGE REMAINS A CHALLENGE
7. (SBU) There are several logistical realities that impact
how local Muslims plan a pilgrimage, and they represent
additional, external hurdles for potential Turkmen pilgrims.
First, according to the Saudi Hajj Ministry website, to go on
the Hajj, prospective pilgrims must procure a special Hajj
visa from a Saudi-approved Hajj travel agency. Saudi law
requires that all pilgrims arrange their travel through these
officially-approved Hajj travel agencies, which are
authorized to organize travel and accommodations for pilgrims
ASHGABAT 00000171 002 OF 002
through the appropriate ministries in Saudi Arabia. There
are no such approved travel agencies in Turkmenistan,
although there is a Saudi embassy. Therefore, any Saudi hajj
visa, beyond those procured for pilgrims on a
government-sanctioned flight, would either have to be
procured abroad, or through special arrangements.
8. (SBU) All travelers, as well, must enter the country for
pilgrimage via Jeddah, according to the official hajj
website. Standard flight options for getting Turkmen
citizens to Saudi Arabia, however, are very limited. There
are flights from Ashgabat to Abu Dhabi and Istanbul via
either Turkish Air or Turkmen Air, from whence travelers can
take other airlines to Jeddah. Currently there are eleven
flights per week to Istanbul, a popular route for shuttle
traders and international business people. The high cost of
international flight beyond those two airlines, however,
would limit hajj travel to wealthy Turkmen. (NOTE: Turkmen
citizens enjoy special low fares on Turkmen Air as well as
Turkish Air flights. Standard international fares would be
out of the average citizen's reach. END NOTE.)
9. (SBU) The quota for hajj pilgrims from Turkmenistan is
currently about 4,400. This number is derived from Saudi
Arabian government information on its official website that
reports the Muslim population in Turkmenistan at about
4,407,000, with a total population estimate of 4,952,081.
(NOTE: This is one of many estimates. A census has not been
conducted in Turkmenistan since 1989. END NOTE.) The quota
provides for the travel of 1,000 pilgrims for every one
million people in a Muslim country. It is unclear whether
the quota is established by calculating 1,000 pilgrims per
every 1 million Muslims, or 1,000 per every 1 million people
in a Muslim country.
TURKISH CITIZENS MAY BE ASSISTING PILGRIMS
10. (SBU) Post has learned from several sources including
the Turkish ambassador that there may be Turkish citizens
living in Turkmenistan who help Turkmen citizens to go on
hajj. Local employees report that many Turkish citizens who
live and work here, including business people, are encouraged
to maintain their Islamic traditions, go to mosque, and
assist devout Turkmen.
11. (SBU) COMMENT: While the difficulties that would-be
pilgrims face would seem to argue in favor of a smaller
number of pilgrims than the 1,000 that our parliamentary
contact claimed, post believes that, based on the anecdotal
stories it has heard, the government is in fact allowing
pilgrims that can afford it and (possibly) have connections
to finance their own way, as it promised the U.S. Commission
on International Religious Freedom last August. The
oft-quoted number of 188 is simply the number that the
Government officially sponsors. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND