INFLUENTIAL DEOBAND MADRASSA GATHERING DECLARES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 NEW DELHI 000623

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA, DS/DSS/ITA, S/CT/ALLAN, R, AND ECA/PE/C
NSC FOR ABRAMS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER KISL SCUL ASEC CASC PREL KTFN KCRM KIRF
IN
SUBJECT: INFLUENTIAL DEOBAND MADRASSA GATHERING DECLARES
TERRORISM UN-ISLAMIC

REF: NEW DELHI 574

NEW DELHI 00000623 001.2 OF 005



1. (SBU) Summary: At a February 25 conference at the
influential and conservative Darul Uloom madrassa in Deoband,
Uttar Pradesh, approximately 10,000 - 15,000 Islamic clerics
declared terrorism un-Islamic. In equal measure, the
declaration by clerics of the madrassa regarded as the
ideological home of the Taliban also took a swipe at U.S.
foreign policy and the GOI for what the clerics believe to be
heavy-handed and discriminatory law enforcement tactics in
fighting terrorism. Darul Uloom's directors invited Muslim
clerics from different Sunni groups including Barelvi, Ahle
Hadith, and Jamaat-i-Islami Hind, as well as Shia clergy.
While all groups were represented, contacts report prominent
Barelvi and Shia clergy did not attend, making it primarily a
Deobandi affair. Nonetheless, the significance of such a
declaration from the heart of conservative South Asian Islam
cannot be underestimated. Two former embassy International
Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) participants helped
organize the meeting while at least ten former IVs attended.
Deoband has never sought media attention, but tacit politicl
pressure from GOI, a realization by madrassa elders that
their image was deteriorating, and a willing media forum to
air their grievances likely prompted the declaration and the
associated coverage. While the declaration obviously won't
end terrorism and domestic political considerations are never
far away, Deoband's willingness to denounce terrorism
publicly must be taken as a positive sign that will influence
the thinking of Muslims from Afghanistan to Indonesia who
listen to what Deoband has to say. The USG should refrain
from commenting on the declaration publicly, but should
capitalize on this development by quietly offering Deoband
educational resources and continuing to issue invitations for
its clerics and students to participate in International
Visitor programs in the U.S. There is an ACTION REQUEST in
para 12. End Summary.


2. (U) The full text of the declaration follows at the end
of this cable in para 13.

Terrorism un-Islamic, but Also...
--------------


3. (U) The influential conservative Darul Uloom madrassa in
Deoband, Uttar Pradesh, viewed by some as the ideological
home of the Taliban (a claim Darul Uloom refutes),hosted an
All India Terrorism Conference on February 25 (reftel). The
gathering of roughly 10,000 - 15,000 clerics from all sects
of Islam jointly issued a declaration condemning terrorism as
un-Islamic. The clerics defined terrorism as, "Any action
that targets innocents, whether by an individual or by any
government and its agencies or by a private organization
anywhere in the world constitutes, according to Islam, an act
of terrorism." Highlights from the conference include:

-- Terrorism completely negates the teachings of Islam, which
is the faith of love and peace.

-- Killing of innocents is not compatible with Islam. It is
un-Islamic.

-- Islam sternly condemns al kinds of oppression, violence
and terrorism.

Muslim Grievances with GOI...
--------------


4. (U) While condemning terrorism, the declaration also
called for "an end to the campaign of maligning the madrassas
as breeding grounds of terrorism and dubbing the entire
community as terrorists." The declaration denounced the
"biased and discriminatory attitude of the government against
the Muslim community," and cited the Naxalites as a
counter-example. Innocent Muslims associated with madrassas
live in fear of being framed by anti-Muslim officials any

NEW DELHI 00000623 002.2 OF 005


time the Naxalites attack, the clerics claimed. Meanwhile
the government takes no effective steps to stop Naxal
insurgency and Muslims "are forced to bear many intolerable
tortures" at the hands of the state, according to the
declaration.

...and the West
--------------


5. (U) The clerics also accuse the Indian government of
appeasement to the "tyrant and colonial master of the West,"
which applies double standards on democracy and human rights.
The West's (read U.S.'s) policies of "aggression, barbarism
and state-sponsored terrorism not only in Palestine, Iraq and
Afghanistan but also in Bosnia and various South American
countries have surpassed all the records known to human
history." The declaration goes on to claim that, "the
internal and external policies of our country are getting
heavily influenced by these forces."

Inclusive, but Mainly a Deobandi Show
--------------


6. (U) Darul Uloom organizers sent invitations to leaders
from many different Sunni groups including Barelvi, Ahle
Hadith, and Jamaat-i-Islami Hind, as well as Shia clergy.
Political Section contacts reported that in the days leading
to the conclave, it was uncertain if the differing factions
would attend. No group boycotted the conference but contacts
as well as some media accounts report that no prominent
Barelvi or Shia leaders participated. Maulana Kalbe Jawwad
of Lucknow, one of the most prominent Shia clerics in India,
did not attend but he did issue a statement supporting the
declaration. Urdu magazine editor Qari Mazhari told a
Political Section FSN, "Most Barelvi leaders did not
participate. It was a show of Deobandis."

India First, Islam Second?
--------------


7. (U) Though critical of the Indian government and its
policies, the declaration does not attack India, referring to
the country as "our great nation." Further, the clerics ask
that Muslims "continue, as they always did in the past, their
loyalty towards the dear motherland," and "not be employed as
tools of evil by anti-Islamic or anti-national forces."
However, just a few lines away the decree advises, "that
(the) most important things are Islam and practicing it," and
that, "worldly situations deteriorate because of the
non-practice of Islamic teaching."

A Media Event
--------------


8. (SBU) Indian press heavily covered the event. It was the
first time Deoband's elders allowed media coverage of a
meeting at the conservative madrassa, which only recently
issued a fatwa on its website banning personal photographs.
When Poloff visited Deoband in November 2007, the madrassa's
leaders implored Poloff to spread the word that Deoband was
not associated with the Taliban and refuted terrorism.
Poloff responded that Deoband itself needed to make these
arguments publicly. It should be noted that two former IVLP
participants helped organize the conference and at least ten
former IVs attended. This suggests that the embassy's
efforts for years to engage the Deobandi community are at
least contributing in some fashion to the adjustment of
attitudes among some of India's Muslim leaders.

Welcome Public Statements... Which Won't End the Debate
-------------- --------------


9. (SBU) Comment: The importance of the declaration from
such a prominent Muslim institution cannot be underestimated,
and may have an impact on Muslims from Afghanistan to

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Indonesia who look to Deoband for leadership. It must be
noted, however, that the grievances against GOI and the
anti-West sentiments are as much a part of the declaration as
the anti-terror message. The invitation to other Sunni sects
and Shias signals another important step toward
reconciliation with other sub-continental Muslims. Though
not formally affiliated, Deobandi madrassas in Pakistan and
Bangladesh will likely take note of the declaration. The
Taliban claim to be influenced by Deobandi teachings, though
the madrassa's leaders repeatedly disavowed the Taliban
during Poloff's November 2007 visit, and the declaration's
impact on the Taliban and other Jehadis is uncertain.
Recently, however, when asked by the press whether suicide
bombings constituted "terror acts," Vice Rector Maulana Abdul
Khaleque Madrasi responded that Islam prohibits, "all forms
of violence used to kill innocent individuals." This leaves
the door slightly open for interpretation. But for the vast
majority of Indian Muslims, the pronouncement against
terrorism should be clear.


10. (SBU) Comment Continued: Some commentators have
criticized the declaration and sought to downplay the
influence of Deoband in the everyday lives of Indian Muslims,
but the madrassa's willingness to engage publicly must be
taken as a positive sign. Without the grievances, a simple
"Terrorism is un-Islamic" statement would frankly carry less
weight. We expect the declaration will generate a lively but
civil public debate within India and beyond on Islam,
terrorism, and GOI and Western policies. Such an open,
public discussion should be viewed as a welcome development.


True Education Reform Remains Key
--------------


11. (SBU) Comment Continued: While the declaration is a
welcome and overdue symbol, more important were the less well
reported discussions on how to incorporate formal education
subjects such as math and science into the madrassa
curriculum. The realization from leading madrassas that they
must modernize represents a significant first step. The GOI
will release details of a madrassa modernization program
later next month. Embassy contacts relayed that GOI
"blessed" the conference and a senior Muslim journalist from
Lucknow told a Political Section FSN, "GOI is planning to
announce sops and concessions before the parliamentary
elections. Such conferences are moves in the right direction
for getting the center's attention." We hope the
government's program will offer concrete solutions rather
than just an election season sop to the Congress Party's
Muslim vote bank. The conference conveniently provides the
government the cover it needs to face down "soft on terror"
and "Muslim appeasement" charges from the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) opposition when it announces new Muslim focused
spending in the current parliamentary budget session. End
Comment.


12. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST FOR SCA, ECA, P, R, and NSC: We
should capitalize immediately on this positive development.
The Deobandis remain wary of the USG, and harshly critical of
its policies, but they continue to engage at the personal
level with representatives of the U.S. Embassy. We tried a
few years ago to offer them computers for madrassa education,
but were turned down. We propose that we try to identify a
third party (perhaps one of USAID's partners in programs in
curriculum development) through which we could offer
technical assistance and other support. In addition, we
should immediately look at ways to fund a special annual
group IVLP for clerics and students from the madrassa to
visit the U.S. and meet USG officials and private Americans.
A little money spent now to show our appreciation for
Deoband's moderate tilt could continue to pay dividends for
years to come as we struggle against violent extremism in
Islam. Please see septel for more detailed information on
post's previous Muslim community IVLP participants. ACTION

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REQUEST: We would welcome Washington's views on whether such
resources can be offered to Deoband.


13. (U) Begin text of declaration (all spelling as received).

--------------
DECLARATION

All India Anti - Terrorism Conference Organized by: Rabta
Madaris Islamiah (Islamic Madrasas Association) Darul Uloom
Deoband, on 17 Safar 1429 H = 25 February 2008 Monday

Chaired by: Hazrat Maulana Marghoobur Rahman Sahib, Mohtamim
Darnl Uloom Deoband & President of Islamic Madrasas
Association, Darul Uloom Deoband

Islam is the religion of mercy for all humanity. It is the
fountainhead of eternal peace, tranquility, security. Islam
has given so much importance to human beings that it regards
the killing of a single person the of killing the entire
humanity, without differentiation based on creed and caste.
Its teaching of peace encompasses all humanity. Islam has
taught its followers to treat all mankind with equality,
mercy, tolerance, justice. Islam sternly condemns all kinds
of oppression, violence and terrorism. It has regarded
oppression, mischief, rioting and murdering among severest
sins and crimes.

This All India Anti-Terrorism Conference attended by the
representatives of all Muslim schools of thought organised by
Rabta Madaris Islamiah Arabia (Islamic Madrasas Association),
Darul Uloom Deoband condemns all kinds of violence and
terrorism in the strongest possible terms. The Conference
expresses its deep concern and agony on the present global
and national alarming conditions in which most of the nations
are adopting such an attitude against their citizens
especially Muslims to appease the tyrant and colonial master
of the West, which cannot be justified in any way. It is a
matter of greater concern that the internal and external
policies of our country are getting heavily influenced by
these forces. Their aggression, barbarism and state-sponsored
terrorism not only in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan but
also in Bosnia and various South American countries have
surpassed all the records known to human history. Contrary to
it, our great nation has always been known for impartiality
and its moral and spiritual values. Now the situation has
worsened so far that every Indian Muslim especially those
associated with madrasas, who are innocent with good record
of characters, are always gripped by the fear that they might
be trapped by the administrative machinery anytime. And,
today countless number of innocent Muslims are spending their
lives behind the bars and are forced to bear many intolerable
tortures. And, those spreading terror, attacking police
stations, killing the police in broad daylight and showing
illegal arms are roaming about freely with no effective and
preventive steps being taken by the government to check their
acts of terrorism and violence. This partial attitude has put
a big question mark on the secular character of the
government posing great threats to the country. Therefore,
this All India Anti-Terrorism Conference strongly condemns
this attitude and expresses its deep concern on this
partiality of government officials and declares its
continuous joint struggles for domination of law, justice and
secular system.

This conference strongly demands the Indian Government to
curb those maligning the madras as and Muslims. The
administrative machinery should be demanded to conduct
impartial investigations in activities disturbing public
peace in the country and to punish only those found guilty.
It also demands to free the accused if he is found innocent
and punish severely those officials who accused him of crimes
of terrorism. No person of any particular community should be
suspected without solid reasons. In short, the government
agencies must fulfill their duty justly without any prejudice

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and bias so that real peace and security may prevail in the
country.

This All India Anti-Terrorism Conference appeals to all
intellectuals, writers and media persons to independently and
honestly analyze the national and international affairs and
avoid to biased and partial attitudes.

Moreover, this All India anti-Terrorism Conference attended
by the representatives of all schools of thought appeal to
all Muslims to continue, as they always did in the past,
their loyalty towards the dear motherland and love and
respect towards humanity. It appeals to them to fully
understand the present alarming situation, the gravity and
intensity of the time, and feel the pulse of the present
world so that they might not be employed as tools of evils by
anti-Islamic or anti-national forces. It peals to them to
live with dignity and pride being faithful to the country, to
keep full trust on their leadership, render full support to
Islamic madarsas which are valuable assets of the Muslim
Ummah, spend their lives in the country following Islamic
Shariah and teachings with full confidence. They should
always remember that most important things are Islam and
practicing it, and, hence, their prime focus should be on
enriching their lives with good deeds and noble manners as,
in fact, worldly situations deteriorate because of
non-practice of Islamic teachings.

Need for holding state-wise conferences against terrorism.

This meeting of working committee of All India madarsas
association feels necessary to hold state-wise conferences as
it held this grand conference in view of the existing
situations. The present situation of the country demands the
joint and constant efforts being made to denounce terrorism,
biased and discriminatory attitudes of the government against
the Muslim community. It needs such conferences to be held in
the major places of all the states. This meeting appeals to
Darnl Uloom Deoband to act as a leader in this direction.

Issued by: Central office, Islamic Madrasas Association

--------------
End text of declaration.
MULFORD