TURKMENISTAN: ALTHOUGH NO LONGER NUMEROUS, A

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000354 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN; DRL/IRF E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019 TAGS: KIRF PHUM PGOV TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: ALTHOUGH NO LONGER NUMEROUS, A SMALLER BAHAI COMMUNITY PERSEVERES Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: While the Bahai faith has a long history in Turkmenistan, Soviet-era repression reduced the once prominent community to a much smaller remnant. Since Turkmenistan's independence, the Bahai community's circumstances were at times difficult, but have rebounded since re-registration in 2004. The community in Ashgabat and its six affiliated congregations around the country currently meet and conduct activities among their members without obstacles. They emphasize their strict observance of the law and their efforts to familiarize government officials with their beliefs and activities as having contributed to their positive relations with the authorities. Nonetheless, constraint exist due to a lack of religious literature; the inability of the Bahais to register ownership of its house of worship in the group's name; and restrictions on proselytizing. Still, the community's leaders had a genuinely positive outlook on their situation, mentioning these obstacles more in terms of what would be desirables rather than grievances that interfere with their beliefs. END SUMMARY. ASHGABAT WAS LOCATION OF FIRST BAHAI TEMPLE IN THE WORLD ¶2. (C) On March 16, Political Officer met with Bahai Council Chairman, Habib Gafurov, Secretary Naim Nadji and other Council members at the Bahai Center in Ashgabat to discuss the situation of the Bahai community in Turkmenistan. They began by explaining that the community has long been present in Ashgabat. The first Bahai house of worship in the world was built in Ashgabat during 1902-1921. During the 1948 earthquake, its minarets collapsed, but the building itself remained intact until a 1963 visit by Khrushchev, who ordered the imposing structure destroyed. Because it had been built to withstand earthquakes, it took three attempts to demolish the building with dynamite. The foundation, which could not be destroyed, was used to form the base for a monument honoring the revered Turkmen poet Magtymguly. ¶3. (C) According to Gafurov, the Bahai community numbered about 4,000 prior to the Stalinist repression in 1937. After that time, few Bahai remained in Turkmenistan and it was not possible to proselytize, hence their numbers diminished drastically. In 1989, the remaining Bahai community was allowed to register and the group encountered no problems until 1997. At that time, the Bahai community lost its registration because the group could not meet the newly imposed legal threshold that required religious organizations have at least 500 members in order to be registered. During the subsequent seven years, the group complied with the law, discontinuing its meetings at their house of worship and not electing leadership councils. The house of worship, which is owned by a community member and rented to the Bahai community, was not confiscated because, as Nadji explained, it was not being used for meetings in violation of the law. During that time, however, the building was vandalized three times. In 2004, the Bahai community was able to re-register. Its house of worship was rebuilt, converting it from a residential structure to one more suitable for meetings and community activities. SOME ASPECTS OF BAHAI FAITH DO NOT CONFORM WITH LAW ON RELIGION ¶4. (C) There are currently six Bahai communities in Turkmenistan in addition to the Ashgabat community. These groups are able to meet, but Gafurov said questions sometimes arise from local authorities because Bahai beliefs differ from other religions. Gafurov commented that Bahai structures do not correspond to the Turkmenistan Government's concept of a religion, as embodied in the Law on Religious Organizations. For example, he noted that there is an administrative structure in local Bahai communities consisting of a nine-person elected council, in addition to ASHGABAT 00000354 002 OF 002 an elected nine-person national council. There is no single religious leader in the community. While the Law on Religion requires a church leader to have specialized religious education, there are no specialized theological schools for teaching Bahai beliefs and training community leaders. Instead, members study independently and share information with others. Likewise, the law requires people working with children to have specialized training, but according to the Bahai leaders, their instruction for children teaches general moral principles that do not require any special background. BAHAI COMMUNITY STRICTLY OBSERVES THE LAW ¶5. (C) In working with government officials, Bahai leaders said they have no difficulties and never complain. During the seven-year period when the community was not registered, the group's national council still worked to protect its followers and resolve problems. They said that they never argued and never were detained. Although there were difficulties, they were able to work them out. Other churches' buildings were bulldozed because the groups met in violation of the law. They recounted that no bulldozer came to their house of worship, and a member of the State Council on Religious Affairs had told them to call him if there was such a threat. BAHAI COMMUNITY LACKS LITERATURE; CANNOT REGISTER HOUSE OF WORSHIP ¶6. (C) Concerning religious literature, the community does not have permission to publish materials, nor to bring materials into the country. They said there is a procedure for materials to be approved by the CRA, thereby allowing for printing in Turkmenistan. The Bahai leaders have given materials to the CRA for approval, but have never received a response. They said the community still relies on literature brought to Turkmenistan in 1996 and earlier, and that they would like the benefit of newer publications. Despite the lack of response regarding publications, the leaders said the CRA receives them well, admitting that they rarely have to go to the CRA with any problem. After the community was re-registered in 2004, officials came to meetings and celebrations and, according to Nadji, they saw that the group was "OK." Now, officials come less often, only upon invitation for special events. ¶7. (C) The Bahai center itself is owned by a member of the community. Nadji said the 1997 Law on Religion does not provide a procedure for the government to approve ownership by a religious organization. Instead, the member rents the house of worship to the community and the address is listed as the group's legal address. No problems have arisen with this arrangement, although he acknowledged that it would be better if the property could be registered officially in the Bahai center's name. The group's membership is growing slowly. Since using radio and television is not possible, they can only discuss their beliefs with others on a one-on-one basis. They expect between 50-100 people will become members this year. ¶8. (C) COMMENT: With its strict observance of the law, respect for government and policy of non-involvement in politics, the Bahai community should be an ideal group for Turkmenistan's authorities to accept. The Government has shown flexibility in its application of the law in registering a group that lacks theologically-trained leaders and that operates its house of worship in premises rented from a private individual. Still, even this "model" group cannot own its premises, nor can it import or print religious literature. Overall, the community's leaders had a genuinely positive outlook on their situation, mentioning these obstacles more as afterthoughts and desirables than as grievances that interfere with their beliefs. END COMMENT. MILES