(U) KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS FOR REPORTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 130972

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2034
TAGS: PINR MU
SUBJECT: (U) KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS FOR REPORTING
ON IMAM GHALIB'S DEATH (C-ME9-02527)

REF: MUSCAT 001061

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


1. (C/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND
APPRECIATION FOR MUSCAT 001061 ON IMAM GHALIB'S DEATH.
REFTEL PROVIDED INSIGHT ON THE EXTENT IBADHISM -- THE
MAJORITY SECT OF ISLAM IN OMAN -- MIGHT BE THE BASIS FOR ANY
POLITICAL MOVEMENTS, AND ON THE ROLE IBADHISM PLAYS IN
LEGITIMIZING OR POTENTIALLY UNDERMINING THE CURRENT REGIME.
POST,S TIME AND RESOURCES PERMITTING, WE WOULD WELCOME
BROADER INSIGHTS INTO THE EXTENT THE POPULATION VALUES
RELIGION IN EVERYDAY LIFE, AND ANY INFORMATION ON THE
POLITICAL ROLE RELIGIOUS FIGURES PLAY IN OMAN, PARTICULARLY
HOW SULTAN QABOOS USES RELIGION/IBADHISM TO LEGITIMIZE HIS
RULE. PLEASE FIND BELOW SOME SPECIFIC TOPICS AND QUESTIONS
THAT ARE OF GREAT INTEREST TO ANALYSTS. MANY THANKS, AND
REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON.


A. (C) DETAILS ON THE OMANIS WHO VISITED IMAM GHALIB DURING
HAJJ, INCLUDING ANY AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON HOW MANY
VISITED, WHO THEY WERE, THEIR RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL
AFFILIATIONS, THE NATURE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH IMAM
GHALIB, AND ANY OTHER DETAILS.


B. (C) PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS ON GHALIB'S SONS,
PARTICULARLY RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS WITH
POLITICAL OR CHARITABLE GROUPS.


C. (C) DID ANY OF THE 31 OMANI ISLAMISTS CONVICTED IN 2005
-- ALLEGEDLY FOR TRYING TO RE-ESTABLISH THE IMAMATE --
IDENTIFY A POTENTIAL IMAM CANDIDATE? WHO HAS THE OMANI
GOVERNMENT IDENTIFIED AS A POTENTIAL IMAM CANDIDATE?


2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-ME9-02527 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON