Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA249
2009-02-12 01:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: CHIEF MUFTI CRITICISES EXTREMISM, CAUTIOUSLY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000249
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KISL KIRF KPAO KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: CHIEF MUFTI CRITICISES EXTREMISM, CAUTIOUSLY
OPEN TO ENGLISH INSTRUCTION IN MADRASSAS
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000249
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KISL KIRF KPAO KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: CHIEF MUFTI CRITICISES EXTREMISM, CAUTIOUSLY
OPEN TO ENGLISH INSTRUCTION IN MADRASSAS
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a February 6 meeting, Chief Mufti and
Head of the Spiritual Association of Muslims in Kazakhstan (SAMK)
Absasttar Derbisali told the Ambassador that Islam is undergoing a
renaissance in Kazakhstan. He shared his concern that religious
extremism has tarnished the image of Islam, noting that Kazakhstan's
educated populace is less susceptible to extremist ideas but
admitting that Hizb-ut Tahrir (HT),a banned extremist organization,
does function in Southern Kazakhstan. Derbisali lamented that
"sects have flooded Kazakhstan" since independence. He underlined
that education of imams is his first priority. The Ambassador
presented our proposal to fund three English Language Fellows (ELF)
TO teach English at Kazakhstan's madrassas. The Chief Mufti was
cautiously open to the proposal, saying that he has to weigh
carefully how English would fit into the students' already-crowded
curriculum, but noted favorably that English education would allow
Kazakhstani imams to participate in international conferences. END
SUMMARY.
ISLAM'S LONG HISTORY IN CENTRAL ASIA
3. (SBU) On February 6, the Ambassador met in Almaty with Chief
Mufti and Head of the Spiritual Association of Muslims in Kazakhstan
(SAMK) Absattar Derbisali. Derbisali opened the meeting with a
brief overview of the history of Islam in Central Asia, noting that
Islam came to the region in the 8th century, well before the nomadic
Central Asian tribes organized into separate and cohesive entities
in the 15th century. He reminded the Ambassador that the practice
of Islam was tightly controlled both by the Tsarist and Soviet
authorities, and as a result, few Kazakhs had real knowledge of
Islam at the time of Kazakhstan's independence. The religion has
undergone a renaissance since then, with the number of mosques
reaching 2,300 today. Derbisali underlined that his priority for
SAMK is to focus on educating imams about the history and teachings
of Islam, who in turn will educate the populace.
RELIGIOUS EXTREMISTS TARNISH ISLAM
4. (SBU) Derbisali shared his concern that religious extremists
have tarnished the image of Islam, but noted that Kazakhstan differs
from Muslim nations like Afghanistan and Pakistan "where people are
illiterate" and are therefore "easily lead astray." Kazakhstan's
SAMK "closely follows" President Nazarbayev's policy of "tolerance
and unity above all else." Derbisali related that the majority of
Kazakhs follow the Hanafi branch of Sunni Islam, although there are
some adherents to Salafism. He admitted that Hizb-ut Tahrir (HT),
the banned extremist organization, has a presence in Kentau in
Southern Kazakhstan. He said he traveled there himself to meet with
its followers and explain the error of their ways. "Religion should
not mix with politics," stressed the Chief Mufti. The Ambassador
expressed his agreement.
NON-TRADITIONAL FAITHS A THREAT
5. (SBU) Derbisali lamented that since independence, new religious
groups or, as he put it, "sects and gurus," have "flooded"
Kazakhstan. These missionaries have brought "dangerous" ideas with
them, "clogging people's minds." (NOTE: Derbisali has publicly
supported the draft law on religion, which would significantly limit
the activities of smaller "non-traditional" religious groups. The
draft is now before the Constitutional Council for review. END
NOTE.)
CHIEF MUFTI PONDERS THE IDEA OF ENGLISH IN MADRASSAS
6. (SBU) The Chief Mufti underscored that his top priority as SAMK
Chair is to improve the education of imams and to open more
madrassas in Kazakhstan. He proudly highlighted that the Almaty
Islamic Institute opened under his tenure, with the help of Egypt's
Al-Azhar University. The Ambassador commended the Mufti's
commitment to education and proposed providing three U.S.-funded
English Language Fellows (ELFs) to teach English in Kazakhstan's
madrassas. Derbisali welcomed the proposal, but said that he needs
ASTANA 00000249 002 OF 002
to think about it. His primary concern seemed to be how to fit
English instruction into a crowded curriculum where students are
already studying three languages -- Kazakh, Russian, and Arabic. He
worried that students who come from rural areas and are struggling
to learn Russian would be overloaded with yet another language.
Despite these reservations, Derbisali noted that English education
would allow Kazakhstan's imams to participate in international
seminars and conferences. He stressed that he and his staff will
seriously consider the proposal. After the meeting, Nurzhan
Makhanov, the head of Chief Mufti's Protocol and External Relations
Department, also floated the idea of having ELFs teach English for
members of the SAMK Secretariat. The Ambassador told Makhanov that
the program is flexible and can be molded to SAMK's needs.
HOAGLAND
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KISL KIRF KPAO KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: CHIEF MUFTI CRITICISES EXTREMISM, CAUTIOUSLY
OPEN TO ENGLISH INSTRUCTION IN MADRASSAS
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a February 6 meeting, Chief Mufti and
Head of the Spiritual Association of Muslims in Kazakhstan (SAMK)
Absasttar Derbisali told the Ambassador that Islam is undergoing a
renaissance in Kazakhstan. He shared his concern that religious
extremism has tarnished the image of Islam, noting that Kazakhstan's
educated populace is less susceptible to extremist ideas but
admitting that Hizb-ut Tahrir (HT),a banned extremist organization,
does function in Southern Kazakhstan. Derbisali lamented that
"sects have flooded Kazakhstan" since independence. He underlined
that education of imams is his first priority. The Ambassador
presented our proposal to fund three English Language Fellows (ELF)
TO teach English at Kazakhstan's madrassas. The Chief Mufti was
cautiously open to the proposal, saying that he has to weigh
carefully how English would fit into the students' already-crowded
curriculum, but noted favorably that English education would allow
Kazakhstani imams to participate in international conferences. END
SUMMARY.
ISLAM'S LONG HISTORY IN CENTRAL ASIA
3. (SBU) On February 6, the Ambassador met in Almaty with Chief
Mufti and Head of the Spiritual Association of Muslims in Kazakhstan
(SAMK) Absattar Derbisali. Derbisali opened the meeting with a
brief overview of the history of Islam in Central Asia, noting that
Islam came to the region in the 8th century, well before the nomadic
Central Asian tribes organized into separate and cohesive entities
in the 15th century. He reminded the Ambassador that the practice
of Islam was tightly controlled both by the Tsarist and Soviet
authorities, and as a result, few Kazakhs had real knowledge of
Islam at the time of Kazakhstan's independence. The religion has
undergone a renaissance since then, with the number of mosques
reaching 2,300 today. Derbisali underlined that his priority for
SAMK is to focus on educating imams about the history and teachings
of Islam, who in turn will educate the populace.
RELIGIOUS EXTREMISTS TARNISH ISLAM
4. (SBU) Derbisali shared his concern that religious extremists
have tarnished the image of Islam, but noted that Kazakhstan differs
from Muslim nations like Afghanistan and Pakistan "where people are
illiterate" and are therefore "easily lead astray." Kazakhstan's
SAMK "closely follows" President Nazarbayev's policy of "tolerance
and unity above all else." Derbisali related that the majority of
Kazakhs follow the Hanafi branch of Sunni Islam, although there are
some adherents to Salafism. He admitted that Hizb-ut Tahrir (HT),
the banned extremist organization, has a presence in Kentau in
Southern Kazakhstan. He said he traveled there himself to meet with
its followers and explain the error of their ways. "Religion should
not mix with politics," stressed the Chief Mufti. The Ambassador
expressed his agreement.
NON-TRADITIONAL FAITHS A THREAT
5. (SBU) Derbisali lamented that since independence, new religious
groups or, as he put it, "sects and gurus," have "flooded"
Kazakhstan. These missionaries have brought "dangerous" ideas with
them, "clogging people's minds." (NOTE: Derbisali has publicly
supported the draft law on religion, which would significantly limit
the activities of smaller "non-traditional" religious groups. The
draft is now before the Constitutional Council for review. END
NOTE.)
CHIEF MUFTI PONDERS THE IDEA OF ENGLISH IN MADRASSAS
6. (SBU) The Chief Mufti underscored that his top priority as SAMK
Chair is to improve the education of imams and to open more
madrassas in Kazakhstan. He proudly highlighted that the Almaty
Islamic Institute opened under his tenure, with the help of Egypt's
Al-Azhar University. The Ambassador commended the Mufti's
commitment to education and proposed providing three U.S.-funded
English Language Fellows (ELFs) to teach English in Kazakhstan's
madrassas. Derbisali welcomed the proposal, but said that he needs
ASTANA 00000249 002 OF 002
to think about it. His primary concern seemed to be how to fit
English instruction into a crowded curriculum where students are
already studying three languages -- Kazakh, Russian, and Arabic. He
worried that students who come from rural areas and are struggling
to learn Russian would be overloaded with yet another language.
Despite these reservations, Derbisali noted that English education
would allow Kazakhstan's imams to participate in international
seminars and conferences. He stressed that he and his staff will
seriously consider the proposal. After the meeting, Nurzhan
Makhanov, the head of Chief Mufti's Protocol and External Relations
Department, also floated the idea of having ELFs teach English for
members of the SAMK Secretariat. The Ambassador told Makhanov that
the program is flexible and can be molded to SAMK's needs.
HOAGLAND