KAZAKHSTAN: ISLAMIC LEADERS DISCUSS THEIR WORK, COOPERATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000829 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL/PHD STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM EAID KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ISLAMIC LEADERS DISCUSS THEIR WORK, COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES ASTANA 00000829 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (U) SUMMARY: During the week of April 20, USAID's Regional Society and State Advisor met in Astana with the Deputy Imam of the Nur Astana Mosque, Beibit Alikpekovich Mirzageldiyev, and in Almaty with the Deputy Mufti of Kazakhstan, Mukhamed-Khusein Alsabekov. This was the first meeting with the Deputy Imam and the second meeting between Deputy Mufti Alsabekov and the USAID Advisor. END SUMMARY. DEPUTY IMAM SHARES STORY OF ASTANA MOSQUE ¶3. (SBU) The Nur Astana Mosque is now Astana's largest mosque, built in 2005 with financial help from the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. It has four minarets, each 63 meters (206 ft.) and a dome 43 meters (141 ft.) high. The USAID Advisor met with Mirzageldiyev near the entrance and was surprised to observe two females walk out of the Mosque with their hair uncovered and wearing clothing that could be construed as inappropriate for mosque attendance. It became readily apparent after entering, however, that the Mosque provides robes and scarves for females, assuring that women have quick and easy access to the place of worship regardless of their attire. Part of the Mosque is sectioned off and strictly for prayer, while the remaining portion is designed for tour-like observance. While there is a place reserved for females to pray, females not praying had the same access as tourists. In this respect, the Nur Astana Mosque is closer in custom to historical mosques in Turkey than to some of the more traditional mosques in other Central Asian states. ¶4. (SBU) Mirzageldiyev shared some interesting facts behind the Mosque's design. The dome of the structure is approximately 40 meters high, to signify that Muhammed first received revelation at the age of 40. The minarets were 63 meters high, representing Muhammed's age at the time of his death. Mirzageldiyev said the Mosque can hold up to 5,000 worshipers, but asserted that Friday prayers can attract as many as 7,000 worshipers. Mirzageldiyev said he is from the Shymkent area in Southern Kazakhstan and pursued religious studies in Islamabad, Pakistan. ¶5. (SBU) In the course of the conversation, Mirzageldiyev stressed several times that Kazakhstan is a peaceful and harmonious country because all the Muslims of Kazakhstan are Sunni and follow the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence. He underlined that Kazakhstan strives to respect all religions, and cited past conferences on "world" religions held in Kazakhstan. He invited the USAID Advisor to attend Friday prayers in the near future. DEPUTY MUFTI OPEN TO IDEA OF ENGLISH-LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION ¶6. (SBU) In Almaty, the USAID Advisor met with the Deputy Mufti Mukhamed-Khusein Alsabekov. Alsabekov is prominent within the Muslim community in Kazakhstan; he has written numerous books on Islamic jurisprudence and is considered an authority on religious matters. He is frequently featured on television, usually takes part in any Kazakhstani high level religious delegation, and serves as host when well-known religious leaders come to Kazakhstan. Although born and raised in Kazakhstan, he is an ethnic Chechen and by age 30 was the Mufti of Chechnya. Alsabekov claims to speak 12 languages, and writes literature in Russian, Kazakh, and classical Arabic. ¶7. (SBU) This was the second time the USAID advisor met with the Deputy Mufti, and Alsabekov warmly welcomed him, calling him "my brother" and telling him that "he is welcome anytime." Alsabekov shared that he was asked by Chechen and Russian authorities to return to Chechnya in order to lead the Muslim community there, but said that he declined the offer because he "is happy in Kazakhstan and the Kazakhstani people have shown [him] great hospitality." He presented three books to the visiting group and spoke about his long-time interest in the United States. ¶8. (SBU) It is clear that Alsabekov occupies a position of respect and influence within the Chief Mufti's office. During the visit, he ASTANA 00000829 002.2 OF 002 fielded several phone calls that were conducted completely in Arabic. On one call, he was asked to render a decision about a Muslim accidently buried in a Christian cemetery many decades ago, and whether to remove the body for reburial. Alsabekov's office wall features several photographs of him with prominent political and religious figures, including President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev, the former head of Saudi Arabia's religious establishment Sheikh Bin Baz (now deceased),the Iranian Ayatollah Mousavi, and former Malaysian President Mahathir. ¶9. (SBU) Asked about the Embassy's proposal to place three English-Language Fellows (ELFs) in madrassas or within the Secretariat of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAMK), Alsabekov responded positively, saying the idea could prove potentially helpful to both students and administrative officials. [NOTE: The Embassy's proposal has been tentatively welcomed by SAMK officials, but the Chief Mufti has yet to issue his final decision. END NOTE] He observed that English is extremely valuable for international conferences and would provide him and his colleagues easier access to international forums. USAID Advisor assured Alsabekov that should the proposal be accepted, he would be happy to work with the prospective teachers to ensure they are fully aware of local norms and Islamic etiquette. Alsabekov was hopeful that such an English-language program could be established, using the Arabic word inshallah, or "God willing." MILAS