PRT WASIT: SADRIST PC MEMBERS DELIVER DOCUMENT TO

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 BAGHDAD 003144 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2018 TAGS: PREL PINS PINR IZ SUBJECT: PRT WASIT: SADRIST PC MEMBERS DELIVER DOCUMENT TO END SADR,S ARMED STRUGGLE Classified By: PRT Leader Robert Kagler for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Wasit reporting cable. ¶2. (S//REL TO USA, ACGU) Summary: On September 14, Sadrist Trend Provincial Council (PC) member Ahmed Hasan E'barah delivered a statement to the PRT from Muqtada al-Sadr ordering his followers to turn away from armed struggle and enter his new program of Al Momahadoon (The Prepared Ones). Al Momahadoon is a program of study and behavior designed to create a better individual and a better Muslim society. The statement renounces violence and disavows anyone who continues to pursue violent actions from the Sadr movement. On September 21, E'barah, fellow Sadrist PC member Siraj Anwar Ali, and Provincial Council Chairman Mohammad Hassan Jabbar met in Jabbar's office with PRT Political and Governance Officers to discuss Sadr's statement. The Sadr spokesmen stated unequivocally that the head of the Sadr Office in Al Kut ordered them to ensure that the document reached senior American officials in Iraq. E'barah made specific mention of highlighted areas of the text which repeatedly state that Sadr and Sadrists would not support violent actions and would not allow anyone who did to belong to the Sadr movement. We asked point blank if this constituted the official end of Sadr's armed struggle; E'barah responded that this was exactly what they were trying to convey to the Americans and the Coalition. The cordial meeting ended with E'barah's unexpected request to be seen by a U.S. military doctor for treatment of kidney stones. End summary. Orders From Najaf: Pass Document to Coalition -------------- ¶3. (S//REL TO USA, ACGU) The two Sadrist leaders were clearly interested in explaining the document. E'barah said the order to deliver the document to the USG came from the new head of the Sadr office in Al Kut, Sheikh Sai'd Al Maliki, who in turn had orders from Najaf to get the document into Coalition hands. E'barah in late August attempted to deliver the document, dated 15 Shaban (18 August); the delay occurred because his main PRT points of contact were away from the PRT. E'barah added that the PRT received the document because of its close working relationship with the PC in general and the Sadr Trend PC members in particular. He specifically mentioned the PRT Leader's weekly meetings the with the PC chairman in the chairman's office as very positive. Sadrist Leaders: We Officially Renounce Violence -------------- -- ¶4. (S//REL TO USA, ACGU) E'barah verified that the ten-page document was authentic and had gone to the entire Sadrist leadership, although not to all of the rank and file. The key points were that all Sadrists must henceforth stay away from politics and violence, avoid mixing politics and religion, and join Al Momahadoon; refusal will mean automatic expulsion from the Trend. When asked specifically if this constitutes an official notification from Muqtada al-Sadr to the USG that Sadr officially has renounced violence, E'barah responded yes, this was precisely his purpose. He elaborated that Sadr PC members no longer are responsible for the Jaish al-Mahdi (JAM) or anyone else committing violent acts, but only for Al Momahadoon, Sadr's new program of religious and social work. ¶5. (S//REL USA, ACGU) Comment: There seems to be little doubt that the document is authentic and that the Sadr Trend leaders in Al Kut were ordered by their superiors in Najaf to pass it to an official American thus ensuring it would be passed to senior American/Coalition leadership in Iraq. Wasit PRT has maintained a close working relationship with the Sadr Provincial Council members since early 2008. Whether Muqtada Al Sadr truly has renounced violence and plans to implement this manifesto remains to be seen. The Sadrists clearly wish to distance themselves publicly from any further violence, however, and hope this document will spare them from blame for future violence by now-renegade elements of JAM. ¶6. (U) Unofficial English translation of text: ¶I. Definition of those who are prepared (Al Momahadoon) (Pamphlet page 1.) They are a religious, cultural and intellectual army that is engaged in an intellectual, scientific Jihad. This Jihad is to free the minds, spirits, and hearts from BAGHDAD 00003144 002 OF 005 Westernization and secularization. The use of weapons is absolutely prohibited. The Goals of Al Momahadoon: ¶1. Prepare for the coming religious state ¶2. Prepare the people spiritually ¶3. Guide society by spreading a correct Islamic awareness ¶4. Teach people about God and Islamic laws ¶5. Spread social equality and justice through the Islamic system ¶6. State and spread human rights according to Islamic law (Sharia) ¶7. Create an Islamic society ¶8. Preach to people about living a virtuous life and avoiding vice, but only with preaching and praying, not with violence ¶9. Follow the example of the first infallible people (Mohammad and the first Caliphs) ¶10. Ensure Islamic Sharia law is followed and provide security to society ¶11. Ensure freedom with Sharia law and spread moral behavior ¶12. Respect minorities and peoples' opinions ¶13. Apply Sharia law in all your activities Al Momahadoon Missions (Pamphlet page 2.) (Verse from the Koran) In the name of God the most merciful, we give you this book (the Koran); it is full of truth. Worship God and be faithful to his religion. Al Momahadoon (The Prepared) brothers, you are God's favorite. God sent you countless gifts and today we are coming to one of these gifts. It is a gift the advantages of which no one knows except God and the intellectuals. In order to take advantage of this opportunity and benefit from the blessings of this month (Shaban, the month before Ramadan),we ask you, as your first mission, in the month of the prophet to prove to God and his messengers the 12 Imams and to our leader Moqtada al-Sadr (who is a favorite of God's) that you are able to take responsibility and to be committed to what God ordered you to do. Also, you must still maintain the highest levels of loyalty, obedience, faithfulness, and complete commitment. First Mission (Pamphlet page 2.) Practice religious rituals daily and give credit to Imam Al Mahdi Examples of these rituals: ¶1. Read verses of the Koran ¶2. Visit the graves of infallible people (Imams etc) (Karbala/Najaf) ¶3. Read prayers or the Hadiths ¶4. Fast any day of the week that you like ¶5. Read religious books ¶6. Visit sick people and ask God to cure them ¶7. Visit your family and friends ¶8. Provide humanitarian assistance to the poor ¶9. Pray in a mosque ¶10. Pray and ask God to forgive believers ¶11. Provide assistance to believers ¶12. Give advice to one of your Muslim brothers and that advice should remain between you and him ¶13. Attend religious education courses and funerals ¶14. Reconcile two persons ¶15. Ask God to forgive your misdeeds and clear your conscience ¶16. Spread religious awareness ¶17. Distribute humanitarian assistance to faithful people ¶18. Donate your blood to people who need it ¶19. Attend intellectual and thoughtful seminars ¶20. Confess yourself daily before you go to bed II. Agreement Paper In the name of God I -------------- agree before God that I absolutely will not be involved in military or political affairs complying with directions from Mr. Moqtada al-Sadr (honored by God) that orders the Momahadoon to restrict themselves to ideological educational work. God is my witness in what I say. Momahadoon signature Interview committee signature III. The Momahadoon (Prepared people) requirements The requirements for the Momahadoon person under the second part will consist of four stages: Al Mureed - (One who wants to join) a person who wants to join the Momahadoon to build a true state and wait for the time when we have a true Islamic state BAGHDAD 00003144 003 OF 005 Taleb - (Student) someone who wants to achieve self-reform first and then reform society. Al Saleh - (The Righteous) a person who passed through a cycle or cycles in the bigger struggle; he will be able to reform others. Al Mukhles - (The Faithful) someone who is on the highest level of the Momahadoon and others follow his footsteps; these are his qualifications: ¶1. He has reached an age of responsibility (12 years) ¶2. His parents, brothers and sisters should not be involved with secular people in the present or past ¶3. He should absolutely not be in a political party ¶4. Must read and write very well ¶5. Should have a good reputation ¶6. Should not be a member of corrupted religious elements (Sunni, etc) ¶7. Should have good social relations He should also have the following: ¶1. Must have a certificate of literacy or knowledge of the Koran ¶2. A receipt for five payments ¶3. Official documents ¶4. Must fill out a personal application ¶5. Must have two recommendations one from one of a city's righteous and one from a town's righteous ¶6. Signs an agreement stating he will not be involved in political or military activities ¶7. Fills out a form that consists of 150 questions ¶8. He should not be handicapped or have a disability that will prevent him from working ¶9. He should wear appropriate conservative clothing and should present a conservative appearance (note in the original document there was no number 8 in this area the document was numbered 7 then 9 and 10) IV. Moqtada al-Sadr explaining the end of violence and start of the new program In the name of God To my brothers in Imam Al Mahdi Army (JAM) First: the freeze on violent action by the Al Mahdi Army is still going on for an indefinite period and if someone violates this freeze he is not one of us. Second: we set up an educational program for Imam Al Mahdi Army and we named that program Al Momahadoon. All of the members of this program should be committed to doing all its requirements. For persons who do not obey these requirements they will be outside of the Al Mahdi Army (JAM). It is necessary to carry out what Al Mahdi Army says and not disobey it. Third: I want to notify you and all the people inside and outside Iraq that the first Friday of the month of Ramadan will be unlucky Friday to the invaders and we are going to discredit their reputation, denying it by the correct means of solving problems. By doing that we are assisting the Iraqi people by pushing them towards the true Islam. We ask for all people not to be critical of the above statement. Moqtada Al Sadr 1429 Shaban, 15 ¶V. Interview with Moqtada al-Sadr In the name of God The generosity of Islam and Muslims, Mr. Moqtada al-Sadr, God grant him a victory, God's peace be upon you. After earlier issuing the statement dividing the works of the Mahdi Army followers into two sections, that are the Al Moquwemoon (The Resistance or Mujahedeen) and the Al Momahadoon (Those Who are Prepared),it is now necessary to clear up and give more details about this Al Momahadoon project, especially the doctrine and intellectual supervision provided to the Prepared so that all of us will be aware of the details of this project. Question #1 Are the ideology, programs, supervision and general publications concerning this program signed by you? Yes, but more than that, and according to my understanding, the big benefits will go to those who want to be perfect ideologically, educationally, and socially as this will BAGHDAD 00003144 004 OF 005 allow him to carry the best weapon which is knowledge and education. The half-educated man is a miserable one. The best struggler is the one who struggles with himself before he struggles with his enemy. If you prepare yourself as a good, aware, intellectual believer who is a friend of and loves the people and you stay away from all evil, violence, and proud ways and do not enforce your opinion with weapons and violence then it is considered that this coming (developing) generation will be the base of declaring the country where truth and justice will prevail (Islamic rule). But if you stay as you are (ignorant and half-educated) it is the worst thing you can do, you should know that! This program is set up by your leaders; you must follow it as it is your salvation. Question #2 Some brothers believe that this Ideological change came about as a result of the security circumstances in Iraq. That these security circumstances affected Sadr's line. Is that true? ¶A. The one who says that is an enemy to truth, so I consider him my enemy as well. ¶B. I set up the Al Momahadoon to give you a straight line and put you with the righteous. The primary and first target of setting up the Al Momahadoon is a religious matter. ¶C. The biggest struggle is the struggle against the soul. That means reforming the person and being perfect in education and knowledge. ¶D. Struggling against the pagans and resisting them comes after being good at knowledge and education which is included in this project. There are some other advanced stages that members will take and apply if they succeed in this project. ¶E. I consider all Muslims to be negligent in not having these educational programs before. So the ordeals that happened to the believers have nothing to do with setting up this program. ¶F. The ordeals were for specific people in Iraq. However, this program is not for specific people as I consider all Iraqis are equal and there is no difference between people. There might be someone who says "I am a Sadrist" but al-Sadr is his enemy, so do not believe him. ¶G. These hard circumstances are not new or strange for Iraq and Iraqis especially the believers! We are used to getting killed, tortured in jails, arrested, followed and deserted. The best example of that is al-Sadr himself. Most of the Sadr family are martyrs and prisoners, so you are like them, be a voice for Sadr whether you are silent or speaking (actions and words). Question #3 We heard that one of the terms and requirements to be accepted in this program is to write a commitment that the member will not be involved in any military or political affairs. What is the reason for that? Your trust in your leaders should be great enough that there should be no requirement to ask such a question, but I will say the reasons that lead to that. ¶A. This is what my father used to do. He would ask for a written commitment of not being involved in political affairs ¶B. This is an educational program and military has no place there at all, it is outside of the purpose of the program. (This answer was highlighted by Sadr office for our special notice in original text) ¶C. This program is to prepare people qualified in all aspects of life for the future. ¶D. What we mean by politics here is the politics that leads to corruption and this program is free from any corruption. ¶E. We also mean the politics that is running the country, struggling to get seats and positions also portfolios (job appointments). We thought, in the past, when we made the believers participate in politics that they would make it clean and get rid of corruption. But what happened was the opposite; the believers became corrupted by politics. Question #4 Is this project for women or for men only? It is for both genders and we specify women with several points. ¶A. Women are mothers. If you prepare the mother well you will get a perfect (next) generation. ¶B. Women are the important half of society. ¶C. Women are the primary and basic factor for guiding society. If you prepare a generation of women bound by Islamic law, the veil, dignity, and chastity you will get a generation that loves knowledge and struggles intellectually against western secular thought. ¶D. There is neglect of women in this society. Involving BAGHDAD 00003144 005 OF 005 them in such a project is our duty towards them as women. Question #5 Do those who have a religious education have a role in this project? Yes, they are considered the backbone of this project. They will take over the teaching and advising and the spiritual support as well. Let me remind you with what my father used to say: "this is what we have, it is our glory, leader, and hope". He meant the spiritual support. Question #6 Is the acceptance of people in this program limited to Sadrist of is it for all believers? ¶A. This program is not for a specific group or somebody it is for all who want to be perfect in science and knowledge. (This answer highlighted by Sadr office for our special notice in original text) ¶B. For everyone who loves Sadr is considered a Sadrist, even if he did not belong to the Sadr Trend. I mean anyone who loves the truth and the people of the truth, he by doing this loves Sadr and the Sadr family. Consequently he is a Sadrist. ¶C. The biggest mistake that the Sadr Trend did is that they isolated themselves. Let this project be the open door to the others to be closer to them and become near to the Iraqi believers in general. I want to add when I set up the JAM I did not limit it to the Sadrists but the closed mindedness of some members of JAM led to that result. Question#7 Does the project of Al Momahadoon include those who work in the Federal Government? There are a lot of people who want to join it. If their jobs do not contradict or conflict with the project, there is no problem in joining. Plus they must serve the people as well, for the highest target for the employee is to serve people. As long as joining the project does not hurt their job. Question #8 What is the situation for those who claim that they are JAM members and they did not join this project? They are considered out of the JAM, absolutely out of it. Not being joined to the project reveals many things, I do not want to state it or declare it. I want to add that joining of the JAM members to this project keeps the JAM's reputation safe and joining this project should be the first priority of their duties. (PRT Comment: This answer highlighted by Sadr office for our special notice in original text. End Comment.) Question #9 What is your advice to the Prepared, Al Momahadoon? Peace be upon them, I want to thank those whose money, kids, ordeals, and work did not distract them from God. They sacrifice everything to join this project. I wish them a successful reformation I ask them to be patient and face problems with faith I ask them to walk towards science and knowledge They are the hope for the future They are the soldiers of the Imam Be aware of this: Knowledge is the controller and money is controlled Knowledge is everlasting and money perishable like fame Knowledge is your power in your eternity Money is your enemy in your eternity (money corrupts) Fear God as it should be Invite all not to listen to the rumors that arise around this project The Mujahid who refuses to join this project, he is so far from the Jihad. So if you take up weapons you are not part of this program. According to my understanding I believe this project is your weapon and ammunition in your life and eternity. Moqtada al- Sadr CROCKER