FOLLOWERS OF ISLAM STRUGGLE FOR RECOGNITION IN CUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 000300 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2017 TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SUBJECT: FOLLOWERS OF ISLAM STRUGGLE FOR RECOGNITION IN CUBA Classified By: COM: M.E. Parmly : For reasons 1.4 b/d ¶1. (C) Summary: Orestes Fonseca, one of the leaders of Cuba's Islamic Community, described the problems with practicing his faith in Cuba. He represented to USINT officers that the GOC has been more focused on accommodating Moslems from the diplomatic community and other foreigners residing in Cuba, than on addressing the needs of the Cuban followers of Islam. On March 13 Fonseca was assaulted by a man who provoked an argument with him on the street, as Fonseca was on his way to a video conference at USINT. He said that the greatest priority for the Islamic community is the construction of a mosque. End summary. ¶2. (C)) Orestes Fonseca is a professor at the University of Havana who is currently working on his doctorate. He freely offers to talk with USINT about the situation of the Islamic community in Cuba. He sees that Cuba is very anxious to build better relations with Islamic countries as evidenced by the recent attendance Foreign Minister, Felipe Perez Roque, at the Islamic conference. He hopes that the GOC's desire to cultivate better relations with Islamatic countries will result in more attention t the needs of the local Moslem community. However, Fonseca said that to date the GOC has been more interested in discussing the projects of diplomats and visiting foreigners rather than the needs of the Cuban followers of the faith. ¶3. (C) Fonseca stated that on March 13 he was unable to attend a video conference at USINT to which he had been invited. The purpose of that video conference was to facilitate a discussion with Dr. Michael Leslie, professor of communications at the University of Florida, Gainesborough, about identity issues of people of African descent. Fonseca said that on that day a man accosted Fonseca and his girlfriend in the street. The man hurled insults at Fonseca's girlfriend. Fonseca tried to tell the person that he did not want a quarrel. However, the person physically assaulted Fonseca. Fonseca fought back. The attacker appeared to have a knowledge of martial arts. He struck Fonseca with a piece of wood, causing a large gash on the top of the head that required several stitches to close. Fonseca knows that the person is a former policeman, and is investigating the situation. He suspects that the incident was a calculated effort to prevent him from attending the video conference. ¶4. (U) Fonseca said that there are approximately 6000 Moslems in Cuba, of which about 400 are Cuban citizens. He stated that the government does not try to prohibit practice of the religion. He mentioned specifically that the approximately 500 Pakistanis temporarily residing in Cuba pursue a great deal of proselytizing efforts without any government interference. The Embassy of Iran runs an Islamic cultural center. Fonseca's group, which is non-denominational- neither Sunni nor Shite- runs a Islamic informational and cultural center, the Malcolm X Research Center, in a private home. They have use of the facilities of a recreational club for Friday prayers and holiday services. The GOC has granted space on the third floor of a museum to serve as an Islamic cultural center and a space for prayer, but this is used only by foreign diplomatics and Cubans are not allowed entry. ¶5. (C) Fonseca said that by far the largest issue facing Cuba's Moslem community is that there is no mosque in Cuba. He said that the GOC promised to complete the construction of a mosque six months ago using donations coming from Muslim countries. He said that there is also an intense conflict as to where the location of this mosque. Fonseca said that the GOC, together with the Pakistani community, want to locate the mosque in the old Havana. Cuban Moslems oppose this because in that area there is too much risk of the building becoming simply a tourist attraction. Fonseca commented that the Pakistanis in Cuba try to dominate all arguments about Islam in the country. Fonseca said that the Pakistanis have been in the lead in trying to establish a madrassa in Cuba. He also said that the GOC has not responded to requests to make a land grant for a cemetery that would ensure Islamic burial practices are followed. The government also has not HAVANA 00000300 002 OF 002 granted permission for private restaurants and food preparation facilities that would follow Quran-based dietary practices. Cuban Moslems usually rely on the food ration book and cannot obtain substitutes for items such as pork. He said that Moslems believe in private property and therefore cannot support the basic principles of Marxism. He said that therefore there are conflicts in the work place and in the schools for failure to participate in mandatory Communist party activities. Finally he said the GOC has not given permission to Moslems to leave the country in order to do the haj to Mecca. ¶6. (C) Comment: Despite the risk of expulsion from his teaching position at the University, Fonseca is very outspoken. He is representative of the many emerging groups in Cuban society that are demanding rights for their specific communities. PARMLY