SNAPSHOT: ISLAM IN NEVIS

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000125

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR-FORTIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KISL SOCI PREL PHUM XL SC
SUBJECT: SNAPSHOT: ISLAM IN NEVIS

REF: A. 07 BRIDGETOWN 1263


B. 07 BRIDGETOWN 1218


1. (SBU) Summary: Following-up on contacts made at the
Embassy's inaugural Iftar, PolOff met with the leader of the
Nevis Muslim Association, as well as with leaders from the
local university's Muslim Association. While both groups are
small, they are well-integrated into the tiny island
community, and warmly welcomed US Embassy engagement. End
summary.


2. (SBU) On a recent visit to the island of Nevis (the
smaller of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis' twin
islands),PolOff met with Abdul-Karim Ahmed, the leader of
the Nevis Muslim Association. Ahmed, who attended the
Embassy's first Iftar in September 2007 (Ref A),is a
community activist, entrepreneur, and radio-show host. Ahmed
explained that there are two principal Muslim communities on
the island: a small contingent of locals (many who have
returned from living abroad or are temporarily visiting from
Trinidad or Guyana),and a larger group of students attending
the Medical University of the Americas (often affectionately
referred to by locals as the "Muslim University of the
Americas"). The University's website is www.mua.edu.


3. (SBU) The Nevis Muslim Association has roughly 30
members, and has a dedicated prayer center that is maintained
by Ahmed, who is also the imam. Ahmed noted that when the
"musjid" was first opened three years ago, they experienced
some discrimination, as some locals would throw rocks at the
musjid. The prayer center has also been burglarized multiple
times recently.


4. (SBU) According to Ahmed, the number of Muslims attending
the Medical University of the Americas (MUA) in Nevis is at
least 250-300. An Associate Dean of MUA told PolOff that the
university has 450 students, and the vast majority of them
are Muslims. The students have formed a Muslim Association
and have a prayer center on campus. According to Ahmed, the
Associate Dean, and some of the students, most of the Muslims
at MUA are from the United States and Canada, with very small
numbers from Pakistan, India, parts of Africa, and elsewhere.


5. (SBU) While in Nevis, PolOff volunteered to meet with a
small group of Muslim students from MUA at the Nevis Muslim
Association's musjid. Fifteen students attended, all
American or Canadian citizens. PolOff answered some
questions on absentee voting, and then fielded questions on
the United States embargo against Cuba, and the "enemy
combatants" being held at Guantanamo Bay. The students
emphasized their Association's wholesale rejection of radical
Islam as antithetical to the main teachings of the religion,
while questioning U.S. policy in Cuba and the Middle East.
The Canadian Muslims in particular raised concerns about the
human rights of the Muslim prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.
Both the students and Ahmed thanked PolOff for the
opportunity to meet, and expressed their desire for increased
engagement with the United States Embassy.


6. (SBU) Comment: While numerically small, the Muslim
community comprises roughly 5-10% of Nevis's population.
Since most of the community is centered at MUA--and these
students come and go every few years--it is a fluid community
that is likely to change in character from time to time. At
the moment, and largely due to the influence of Ahmed (a key
Embassy contact),the Muslim community on Nevis is peaceful,
engaged in the community, and eager to project a positive
image for the religion. End Comment.
OURISMAN