(U) MOHAMMED EL FAZAZI'S RENUNCIATION OF

S E C R E T STATE 120771

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2034
TAGS: PINR GM MO
SUBJECT: (U) MOHAMMED EL FAZAZI'S RENUNCIATION OF
VIOLENCE (C-NC9-02281)

REF: EUP20091026301024

Classified By: ELISSA G. PITTERLE, DIRECTOR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (S/NF) NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER (NCTC) ANALYSTS
IN THE RADICALIZATION AND EXTREMIST MESSAGES GROUP (REMG) ARE
INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING THE FACTORS THAT PROMPTED
LONG-STANDING RADICAL CLERIC MOHAMMED EL FAZAZI TO RENOUNCE
THE USE OF VIOLENCE. ANALYSTS VIEW EL FAZAZI'S PUBLIC
REPUDIATION OF VIOLENCE AS A POTENTIAL COUNTERWEIGHT TO
EXTREMIST MESSAGES IN EUROPE AND IN NORTH AFRICA, AND SEEK
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO INFORM THEIR ANALYSIS, AS TIME AND
RESOURCES PERMIT.


A. (U) WHAT FACTORS PROMPTED EL FAZAZI TO REJECT VIOLENCE
IN GERMANY?


B. (U) SINCE WHEN HAS EL FAZAZI BEEN MOVING TOWARD
REJECTING VIOLENCE? WERE THERE ANY INDICATIONS HE WAS MOVING
TOWARD REPUDIATING THE USE OF VIOLENCE?


C. (S/NF) WAS EL FAZAZI'S PUBLIC RECANTATION ENCOURAGED BY
MOROCCAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS? IF SO, IN WHAT WAYS?


D. (S/NF) WHAT, IF ANY, IS THE EXTENT OF GERMAN LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS' PARTICIPATION IN EL FAZAZI'S
RECANTATION?


E. (U) WHAT PEOPLE, WRITINGS, OR EVENTS IN THE MOROCCAN
PRISON INFLUENCED EL FAZAZI'S RECANTATION? FOR EXAMPLE, DID
EL FAZAZI COME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE IN THE MOROCCAN PRISON
SYSTEM THAT PERSUADED HIM TO CHANGE HIS MIND, SUCH AS A
FELLOW PRISONER OR A VISITING IMAM?


F. (U) HOW MUCH OF A FOLLOWING DOES EL FAZAZI CONTINUE TO
HAVE IN GERMANY, PARTICULARLY IN HAMBURG, AS WELL AS IN
MOROCCO, SUCH AS IN HIS HOMETOWN TANGIER? DOES HE ALSO HAVE
INFLUENCE OVER OTHER MOROCCAN DIASPORAS ACROSS EUROPE?


G. (U) HOW HAVE MUSLIM RADICALS REACTED TO EL FAZAZI'S
REVERSAL? ARE THEY PLANNING TO RESPOND TO EL FAZAZI'S OPEN
LETTER?


2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-NC9-02281 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON