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Viewing cable 06HILLAH75, NAJAF FRIDAY SERMONS: SADRIST SAYS THE JAYSH AL-MAHDI ARE

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06HILLAH75 2006-05-01 10:55 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL REO Hillah
VZCZCXRO9556
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHIHL #0075/01 1211055
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011055Z MAY 06
FM REO HILLAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0613
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0599
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHIHL/REO HILLAH 0664
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HILLAH 000075 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  5/1/2016 
TAGS: KISL PGOV PINS PTER IZ
SUBJECT: NAJAF FRIDAY SERMONS:  SADRIST SAYS THE JAYSH AL-MAHDI ARE 
NOT "MILITIA" 
 
HILLAH 00000075  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Alfred Fonteneau, Regional Coordinator, REO 
Hillah, Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
1. (C)  SUMMARY During Friday sermons in Kufa and Najaf, Sadr 
cleric Sayyed Mohammed al-Tabatebaiee rejected the idea of 
integrating militias into Iraqi security forces in contrast to 
SCIRI preacher Al-Deen al-Qubanji who praised integration.  Both 
clerics appeared to be reacting to Ayatollah Sistani's April 
28th statement putting responsibility for maintaining public 
order squarely in the hands of national security forces.  The 
difference between the two Shi'a religious parties was also 
evident in atmospherics; the Kufa mosque was crowded with 
1700-2000 young men, most wearing Sadr-black uniforms with green 
armbands.  By contrast, the 800 strong audience for al-Qubanji's 
sermon included many local dignitaries as well as clerics from 
SCIRI leader Abd al-Aziz al-Hakim's office.  A subsequent 
Sadrist press conference in Najaf and similar statements from 
Sadrist officials in Wasit Province indicate that Sadrists are 
presenting a united front on keeping the Mahdi Militia 
independent while not openly contradicting Ayatollah Sistani. 
END SUMMARY 
 
Background:  Ayatollah Sistani's Statement 
------------------------------------------ 
 
2. (U) Both sermons appeared to be in reaction to Ayatollah Ali 
Al-Sistani's policy statement the day before.  Sistani discussed 
his meeting with Prime Minister-designate Norri al-Malaki.  He 
notably called for domestic security to be in the control of 
national security forces with sectarian militia to be folded 
into government security units as appropriate.  Sistani urged 
the new administration to fight corruption and stated that the 
marja'iya placed the national interest above sectarian politics. 
 
3.  (C) Accordingly, the Sadrist and Supreme Council for Islamic 
Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) clerical replies appear to have been 
heavily anticipated.  Minibuses coming from Baghdad filled a 
parking lot outside the Sadrist Kufa mosque.  Najaf provincial 
council SCIRI party members were in the audience at SCIRI cleric 
Al Deen al-Qubanji's sermon.  Security was tight at both 
mosques, but while both Sadr Madhi Militia and Badr Organization 
(the armed wing of SCIRI) militia members provided security at 
their respective venues, weapons were not obviously on display. 
 
Sadr Cleric Sayyed Mohammed al-Tabatebaiee:  There are no Sadr 
Militia 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
------------ 
 
4.  (C) Senior Sadr cleric al-Tabatebaiee centered his sermon on 
an explanation of why the Mahdi Militia did not fit the 
definition of militia as used by Ayatollah Sistani.  Militia, 
al-Tabatebaiee explained, are organized, well-trained, 
well-equipped, well-paid, and well-led.  They also receive 
support from the outside.  An example would be the Kurdish 
peshmerga, al-Tabatebaiee stated.  On the other hand, he 
continued, the so-called Mahdi Militia possess none of these 
qualities.   Their members were not trained, relying only on 
their prior military experience and carrying only personal arms. 
 They did not receive outside support, received no salary, and 
were fighting only for the sake of their religion and Islam. 
 
5. (C)  Al-Tabatebaiee attributed the idea of equating Mahdi 
members as a militia to Ambassador Khalilzad.  Ambassador 
Khalilzad sought to end the Sadrist ability to defend 
themselves, he said.  If the militia are to be eliminated, 
Tabatebaiee said, one will have to include the peshmerga. 
 
6. (C) Al-Tabatetaiee also discussed an Iraqi Army raid in Kufa 
several nights before, blaming the raid and one death on the 
Americans (COMMENT: Our involvement was limited to providing air 
cover and back-up.  END COMMENT).  He mentioned a recent 
Al-Zarqawi video, condemning Al-Zarqawi's comments and the fact 
that he appeared with terrorists dressed in black (the color of 
Mahdi Militia uniforms). 
 
SCIRI Cleric Al-Deen al-Qubanji:  Integrate the Militia 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
7. (C) Al-Qubanji's remarks were well attended by Najaf 
provincial dignitaries, including Provincial Council members and 
senior clerics from the office of SCIRI leader Ayatollah Abd 
al-Aziz al-Hakim.  Security was tight and roads leading to the 
Husiniyia Mosque in Najaf were closed.  Badr Organization 
militia members provided inner perimeter security and the Najaf 
police had numerous police patrols in the neighborhood. 
 
8. (C) In contrast to Sadrist al-Tabatetaiee, al-Qubanji 
 
HILLAH 00000075  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
expressed optimism concerning the new government, stating that 
resolution of the political impasse will help stabilize security 
and enable prosperity to develop.  He approved of the idea of 
merging militia into regular security forces, and demanded that 
the international community, including the Arab League, move to 
support integration. 
 
9.  (C) Like al-Tabataiee, al-Qubanji  condemned Zarqawi's 
television appearance.  Al-Qubanji characterized Zarqawi and his 
ex-Baathist allies as an example of mis-guided extremism. 
 
10. (C) COMMENT: In REO's assessment, Sadrist cleric 
al-Tabatebaiee was speaking directly for Moqtada al-Sadr.  He 
was often seen in 2004 standing closely behind and to the left 
of MAS during MAS's public sermons in Najaf.  Subsequently, 
al-Tabatebaiee was arrested by coalition forces and released 
seven months ago.  During his incarceration, he allegedly led 
Sadrist Friday afternoon prayers in the prison, an indication of 
his close standing to MAS.   Thus, his comments that the Jaysh 
al-Mahdi may not tolerate integration into formal Iraqi security 
units may prefigure hard political bargaining to come, and 
perhaps, future violence in the South-Central region.  At the 
same time, al-Tabatebaiee took care not to directly contradict 
Sistani's call for militia integration. 
 
11. (C) At an April 30th press conference called by Sadrist 
after meeting with Moqtada al-Sadr in Najaf, Council of 
Representatives member Dr. Bahaa al-Araji stated that the Mahdi 
Militia are not connected to a particular party, but are more of 
a public movement and therefore do not meet a legal definition 
of militia.  He also suggested that the Mahdi Militia do not 
need integration into public institutions as many members are 
already public employees or professionals.  Sadr officials in 
Wasit Province on the same day offered much the same reasoning 
to REO staff, indicating extensive coordination of this party 
message.  END COMMENT 
FONTENEAU