VZCZCXRO3888
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #1684/01 3271309
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231309Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1393
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2245
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2300
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 2326
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 3315

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001684 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV TI
SUBJECT: THE LOW-DOWN ON TAJIKISTAN'S LAW ON RELIGION 
 
REF: DUSHANBE 1600 
 
DUSHANBE 00001684  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Tajikistan's draft law on religion does not 
appear to be on the fast track any longer.  Government officials 
will revise the current draft, and it is unlikely that the 
proposed law will not be considered by parliament until next 
year.  While future drafts may take into account some of the 
concerns expressed by religious groups and non-governmental 
organizations, we predict the government will still continue to 
exert severe restrictions on religious freedom.  End summary. 
 
Another Conference 
 
=============== 
 
¶2. (U) On 21 November 2007, PolOff attended an OSCE-sponsored 
round table on the draft law on religion.  The meeting was 
essentially a reprise of a November 7 conference (reftel), in 
which religious groups and non-governmental organizations were 
given an opportunity to voice their opinions about the draft. 
OSCE brought in Gerhard Robbers, a member of ODIHR's Advisory 
Panel on Freedom of Religion or Belief, to speak about general 
concerns regarding the draft law.  Robbers spoke very 
cautiously, emphasizing the need for a cooperative arrangement 
with the government. 
 
¶3. (U) The only senior member of the Government to attend, 
Saimurod Fattoev, President Rahmon's State Advisor on Political 
and Social Issues, departed before the floor was opened for 
public discussion.  A representative of the Ministry of Culture 
took notes, but he was not in a position to speak 
authoritatively about the government's plans for future drafts. 
 
Taking the Draft Law Off the Front Burner 
 
=============================== 
 
¶4. (SBU) PolOff spoke to Abdullo Rahnamo, a researcher at the 
Government-sponsored Center for Strategic Research, on the 
margins of the OSCE round table.  Rahnamo has become a respected 
analyst on religious affairs, and is in a position to speak 
credibly on the government's agenda.  Rahnamo said that, as a 
result of the November 7 conference, the government downgraded 
the urgency of passing the new law on religion and is now 
treating the law as a normal piece of legislation.  The 
government will likely not submit the draft to parliament until 
next year. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Rahnamo further added that government officials will 
revise the current draft and amend some of the more problematic 
provisions that have been criticized by religious groups and 
non-governmental organizations.  He said in particular that the 
prohibition on political parties having a religious affiliation 
will be amended or removed. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Rahnamo cautioned that these developments represent a 
minor shift in tactics by the government, as opposed to a 
significant shift in policy.  The government will likely use the 
November 7 and 21 meetings to claim that there has been a 
transparent, consultative drafting process.  Government policy 
is still aimed at exerting control over all aspects of religious 
life, and the government will find other ways to limit the 
political activities of the Islamic Renaissance Party. 
 
Keeping the Fire Going 
 
================== 
 
¶7. (SBU) OSCE representatives also indicated to PolOff that the 
government has not yet officially requested an ODIHR review of 
the draft law.  OSCE has been seeking such a request as a 
mechanism for meaningful engagement with the government on the 
issue.  While OSCE has been waiting for this request, embassy 
requested that a local partner of the International Center for 
Not-for-Profit Law review the draft law.  In lieu of ODIHR's 
official participation, OSCE and other interested organizations 
will be able to use the International Center's analysis as a 
means of intervention with government officials. 
 
Observations/Comment 
 
================== 
 
¶8. (SBU) Comment: Efforts to confront the government on the 
draft law of religion have yielded a short term positive result. 
 The next draft of the law will likely contain some 
improvements, but it will not constitute a capitulation to 
religious groups and non-governmental organizations.  OSCE 
 
DUSHANBE 00001684  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
deserves a lot of credit for raising the profile of the issue, 
but Robbers' comments indicate that the organization will take a 
very cautious approach from this point on.  End comment. 
HUSHEK