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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001262 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV TERR KPAO KG
SUBJECT: SADYKJAN KAMALOV SPEAKS OUT ON HIS LATE BROTHER 
 
REF: A. BISHKEK 1204 
     ¶B. IIR 6955008306 
 
BISHKEK 00001262  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Former Mufti of Kyrgyzstan Sadykjan Kamalov broke 
his silence on the death of his brother Muhammadrafiq Kamalov 
during an interview on August 23 with a reporter from 
RFE/RL's local affiliate Radio Azattyk.  Kamalov emphasized 
his brother's belief in supporting the government and public 
peace.  He acknowledged that his brother had contact with 
Hizb ut-Tahrir members, but that he preached a message of 
tolerance and education to them.  He claimed his brother was 
afraid of weapons and would have not been involved with 
terrorism. 
 
¶2. (U) Specific points from his interview are: 
 
-In the 25 years since Muhammadrafiq Kamalov became the Imam 
of Karasuu Al-Sarahsiy Mosque, his parish grew from 50-60 
people to more than 5000 people.  He always encouraged 
friendship among Muslims, strengthening the public peace, 
supporting the country's leaders, and helping people to see 
the difference between good and evil. 
 
-Of course, Hizb-ut Tahrir members did come to his mosque to 
pray, and he did not have the right to expel them from the 
mosque.  Over time, more and more HUT members started to come 
to his mosque, but they also realized that he was leading a 
mosque that promoted tolerance and education. 
 
-He was a very peaceful person and was even afraid of knives 
and killing animals for family feasts.  He would not have 
dealt with weapons and ammunition.  How all the weapons came 
to be found in his car is a large question. 
 
-On his brother's international travel, every year he 
traveled to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Arab countries as 
a group leader on the hajj.  He visited Iran twice as a 
teacher and examiner of the Koran.  He also visited friends 
in Pakistan. 
 
-He denied being a Wahabi, because there are no Wahabis in 
Kyrgyzstan.  These accusations came about as a result of his 
conflict with one of the religious leaders in 1996-97. During 
that time, one person, not knowing the true meaning of the 
word, called him a Wahabi. 
 
-As an imam and as a citizen, his brother Muhammadrafiq did a 
lot to help Bakiyev become the president.  Although he could 
not say that the situation in the south is satisfactory, 
everyone needed to strengthen their trust in the president. 
The people need to support the President's domestic and 
foreign policies and stand strong with him.  Unfortunately, 
some government officials are acting out of their personal 
interests. 
 
-Many questions remained unanswered.  The SNB is saying he 
was a terrorist, a hostage, and that it will investigate the 
case.  He will leave it to their conscience. 
 
¶3. (C) COMMENT: While Kamalov's restrained comments coming so 
soon after the death of his brother may seem odd, observers 
note they are in keeping with his personality.  Kamalov, an 
IV alumnus, is known to be tolerant and restrained in his 
public actions and rhetoric, and it is likely he consciously 
waited until the emotional period after his brother's death 
passed before making any public statements. 
 
¶4. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: Muhammadrafiq Kamalov's death 
continues to be an issue of discussion, with public opinion 
coalescing around several prominent rumors.  The first theory 
of the killing is that Kamalov had been kidnapped by the 
people he had been in the car with, a theory that even SNB 
spokesmen have recently repeated in public.  A second theory 
 
BISHKEK 00001262  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
is that the whole situation had been a set up specifically to 
kill Kamalov because of fears of his rising popularity and 
authority in the south.  A final theory is that Kamalov had 
been working with the SNB and that his death in the ambush 
had been a mistake.  Public figures, such as the increasingly 
outspoken Ombudsman Bakir uulu, have publicly accused the 
government of "murdering" Kamalov. 
 
¶5. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: Kamalov's comments are interesting, 
as is his support for Bakiyev and his government, even after 
the death of his brother at that same government's hands. 
Kamalov is a respected figure, and his encouragement to the 
people that they too support the government should carry some 
weight.  However, it is still unclear how Muhammadrafiq 
Kamalov's death will ultimately play out in the political 
arena. 
YOVANOVITCH