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R 271338Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
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INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 2530
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 1839
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 NEW DELHI 000623 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA, DS/DSS/ITA, S/CT/ALLAN, R, AND ECA/PE/C 
NSC FOR ABRAMS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER KISL SCUL ASEC CASC PREL KTFN KCRM KIRF
IN 
SUBJECT: INFLUENTIAL DEOBAND MADRASSA GATHERING DECLARES 
TERRORISM UN-ISLAMIC 
 
REF: NEW DELHI 574 
 
NEW DELHI 00000623  001.2 OF 005 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  At a February 25 conference at the 
influential and conservative Darul Uloom madrassa in Deoband, 
Uttar Pradesh, approximately 10,000 - 15,000 Islamic clerics 
declared terrorism un-Islamic.  In equal measure, the 
declaration by clerics of the madrassa regarded as the 
ideological home of the Taliban also took a swipe at U.S. 
foreign policy and the GOI for what the clerics believe to be 
heavy-handed and discriminatory law enforcement tactics in 
fighting terrorism.  Darul Uloom's directors invited Muslim 
clerics from different Sunni groups including Barelvi, Ahle 
Hadith, and Jamaat-i-Islami Hind, as well as Shia clergy. 
While all groups were represented, contacts report prominent 
Barelvi and Shia clergy did not attend, making it primarily a 
Deobandi affair.  Nonetheless, the significance of such a 
declaration from the heart of conservative South Asian Islam 
cannot be underestimated.  Two former embassy International 
Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) participants helped 
organize the meeting while at least ten former IVs attended. 
Deoband has never sought media attention, but tacit politicl 
pressure from GOI, a realization by madrassa elders that 
their image was deteriorating, and a willing media forum to 
air their grievances likely prompted the declaration and the 
associated coverage.  While the declaration obviously won't 
end terrorism and domestic political considerations are never 
far away, Deoband's willingness to denounce terrorism 
publicly must be taken as a positive sign that will influence 
the thinking of Muslims from Afghanistan to Indonesia who 
listen to what Deoband has to say.  The USG should refrain 
from commenting on the declaration publicly, but should 
capitalize on this development by quietly offering Deoband 
educational resources and continuing to issue invitations for 
its clerics and students to participate in International 
Visitor programs in the U.S. There is an ACTION REQUEST in 
para 12.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) The full text of the declaration follows at the end 
of this cable in para 13. 
 
Terrorism un-Islamic, but Also... 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) The influential conservative Darul Uloom madrassa in 
Deoband, Uttar Pradesh, viewed by some as the ideological 
home of the Taliban (a claim Darul Uloom refutes), hosted an 
All India Terrorism Conference on February 25 (reftel).  The 
gathering of roughly 10,000 - 15,000 clerics from all sects 
of Islam jointly issued a declaration condemning terrorism as 
un-Islamic.  The clerics defined terrorism as, "Any action 
that targets innocents, whether by an individual or by any 
government and its agencies or by a private organization 
anywhere in the world constitutes, according to Islam, an act 
of terrorism."  Highlights from the conference include: 
 
-- Terrorism completely negates the teachings of Islam, which 
is the faith of love and peace. 
 
-- Killing of innocents is not compatible with Islam.  It is 
un-Islamic. 
 
-- Islam sternly condemns al kinds of oppression, violence 
and terrorism. 
 
Muslim Grievances with GOI... 
----------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U) While condemning terrorism, the declaration also 
called for "an end to the campaign of maligning the madrassas 
as breeding grounds of terrorism and dubbing the entire 
community as terrorists."  The declaration denounced the 
"biased and discriminatory attitude of the government against 
the Muslim community," and cited the Naxalites as a 
counter-example.  Innocent Muslims associated with madrassas 
live in fear of being framed by anti-Muslim officials any 
 
NEW DELHI 00000623  002.2 OF 005 
 
 
time the Naxalites attack, the clerics claimed.  Meanwhile 
the government takes no effective steps to stop Naxal 
insurgency and Muslims "are forced to bear many intolerable 
tortures" at the hands of the state, according to the 
declaration. 
 
...and the West 
--------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) The clerics also accuse the Indian government of 
appeasement to the "tyrant and colonial master of the West," 
which applies double standards on democracy and human rights. 
 The West's (read U.S.'s) policies of "aggression, barbarism 
and state-sponsored terrorism not only in Palestine, Iraq and 
Afghanistan but also in Bosnia and various South American 
countries have surpassed all the records known to human 
history."  The declaration goes on to claim that, "the 
internal and external policies of our country are getting 
heavily influenced by these forces." 
 
Inclusive, but Mainly a Deobandi Show 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (U) Darul Uloom organizers sent invitations to leaders 
from many different Sunni groups including Barelvi, Ahle 
Hadith, and Jamaat-i-Islami Hind, as well as Shia clergy. 
Political Section contacts reported that in the days leading 
to the conclave, it was uncertain if the differing factions 
would attend.  No group boycotted the conference but contacts 
as well as some media accounts report that no prominent 
Barelvi or Shia leaders participated.  Maulana Kalbe Jawwad 
of Lucknow, one of the most prominent Shia clerics in India, 
did not attend but he did issue a statement supporting the 
declaration.  Urdu magazine editor Qari Mazhari told a 
Political Section FSN, "Most Barelvi leaders did not 
participate.  It was a show of Deobandis." 
 
India First, Islam Second? 
-------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) Though critical of the Indian government and its 
policies, the declaration does not attack India, referring to 
the country as "our great nation."  Further, the clerics ask 
that Muslims "continue, as they always did in the past, their 
loyalty towards the dear motherland," and "not be employed as 
tools of evil by anti-Islamic or anti-national forces." 
However, just a few lines away the decree advises, "that 
(the) most important things are Islam and practicing it," and 
that, "worldly situations deteriorate because of the 
non-practice of Islamic teaching." 
 
A Media Event 
------------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Indian press heavily covered the event.  It was the 
first time Deoband's elders allowed media coverage of a 
meeting at the conservative madrassa, which only recently 
issued a fatwa on its website banning personal photographs. 
When Poloff visited Deoband in November 2007, the madrassa's 
leaders implored Poloff to spread the word that Deoband was 
not associated with the Taliban and refuted terrorism. 
Poloff responded that Deoband itself needed to make these 
arguments publicly.  It should be noted that two former IVLP 
participants helped organize the conference and at least ten 
former IVs attended.  This suggests that the embassy's 
efforts for years to engage the Deobandi community are at 
least contributing in some fashion to the adjustment of 
attitudes among some of India's Muslim leaders. 
 
Welcome Public Statements... Which Won't End the Debate 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Comment: The importance of the declaration from 
such a prominent Muslim institution cannot be underestimated, 
and may have an impact on Muslims from Afghanistan to 
 
NEW DELHI 00000623  003.2 OF 005 
 
 
Indonesia who look to Deoband for leadership.  It must be 
noted, however, that the grievances against GOI and the 
anti-West sentiments are as much a part of the declaration as 
the anti-terror message.  The invitation to other Sunni sects 
and Shias signals another important step toward 
reconciliation with other sub-continental Muslims.  Though 
not formally affiliated, Deobandi madrassas in Pakistan and 
Bangladesh will likely take note of the declaration.  The 
Taliban claim to be influenced by Deobandi teachings, though 
the madrassa's leaders repeatedly disavowed the Taliban 
during Poloff's November 2007 visit, and the declaration's 
impact on the Taliban and other Jehadis is uncertain. 
Recently, however, when asked by the press whether suicide 
bombings constituted "terror acts," Vice Rector Maulana Abdul 
Khaleque Madrasi responded that Islam prohibits, "all forms 
of violence used to kill innocent individuals." This leaves 
the door slightly open for interpretation.  But for the vast 
majority of Indian Muslims, the pronouncement against 
terrorism should be clear. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Comment Continued: Some commentators have 
criticized the declaration and sought to downplay the 
influence of Deoband in the everyday lives of Indian Muslims, 
but the madrassa's willingness to engage publicly must be 
taken as a positive sign.  Without the grievances, a simple 
"Terrorism is un-Islamic" statement would frankly carry less 
weight.  We expect the declaration will generate a lively but 
civil public debate within India and beyond on Islam, 
terrorism, and GOI and Western policies.  Such an open, 
public discussion should be viewed as a welcome development. 
 
 
True Education Reform Remains Key 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶11.  (SBU) Comment Continued: While the declaration is a 
welcome and overdue symbol, more important were the less well 
reported discussions on how to incorporate formal education 
subjects such as math and science into the madrassa 
curriculum. The realization from leading madrassas that they 
must modernize represents a significant first step.  The GOI 
will release details of a madrassa modernization program 
later next month.  Embassy contacts relayed that GOI 
"blessed" the conference and a senior Muslim journalist from 
Lucknow told a Political Section FSN, "GOI is planning to 
announce sops and concessions before the parliamentary 
elections.  Such conferences are moves in the right direction 
for getting the center's attention."  We hope the 
government's program will offer concrete solutions rather 
than just an election season sop to the Congress Party's 
Muslim vote bank.  The conference conveniently provides the 
government the cover it needs to face down "soft on terror" 
and "Muslim appeasement" charges from the Bharatiya Janata 
Party (BJP) opposition when it announces new Muslim focused 
spending in the current parliamentary budget session.  End 
Comment. 
 
¶12. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST FOR SCA, ECA, P, R, and NSC:  We 
should capitalize immediately on this positive development. 
The Deobandis remain wary of the USG, and harshly critical of 
its policies, but they continue to engage at the personal 
level with representatives of the U.S. Embassy.  We tried a 
few years ago to offer them computers for madrassa education, 
but were turned down.  We propose that we try to identify a 
third party (perhaps one of USAID's partners in programs in 
curriculum development) through which we could offer 
technical assistance and other support.  In addition, we 
should immediately look at ways to fund a special annual 
group IVLP for clerics and students from the madrassa to 
visit the U.S. and meet USG officials and private Americans. 
A little money spent now to show our appreciation for 
Deoband's moderate tilt could continue to pay dividends for 
years to come as we struggle against violent extremism in 
Islam.  Please see septel for more detailed information on 
post's previous Muslim community IVLP participants.  ACTION 
 
NEW DELHI 00000623  004.2 OF 005 
 
 
REQUEST: We would welcome Washington's views on whether such 
resources can be offered to Deoband. 
 
¶13.  (U) Begin text of declaration (all spelling as received). 
 
----------- 
DECLARATION 
 
All India Anti - Terrorism Conference Organized by: Rabta 
Madaris Islamiah (Islamic Madrasas Association) Darul Uloom 
Deoband, on 17 Safar 1429 H = 25 February 2008 Monday 
 
Chaired by: Hazrat Maulana Marghoobur Rahman Sahib, Mohtamim 
Darnl Uloom Deoband & President of Islamic Madrasas 
Association, Darul Uloom Deoband 
 
Islam is the religion of mercy for all humanity. It is the 
fountainhead of eternal peace, tranquility, security. Islam 
has given so much importance to human beings that it regards 
the killing of a single person the of killing the entire 
humanity, without differentiation based on creed and caste. 
Its teaching of peace encompasses all humanity. Islam has 
taught its followers to treat all mankind with equality, 
mercy, tolerance, justice. Islam sternly condemns all kinds 
of oppression, violence and terrorism. It has regarded 
oppression, mischief, rioting and murdering among severest 
sins and crimes. 
 
This All India Anti-Terrorism Conference attended by the 
representatives of all Muslim schools of thought organised by 
Rabta Madaris Islamiah Arabia (Islamic Madrasas Association), 
Darul Uloom Deoband condemns all kinds of violence and 
terrorism in the strongest possible terms. The Conference 
expresses its deep concern and agony on the present global 
and national alarming conditions in which most of the nations 
are adopting such an attitude against their citizens 
especially Muslims to appease the tyrant and colonial master 
of the West, which cannot be justified in any way. It is a 
matter of greater concern that the internal and external 
policies of our country are getting heavily influenced by 
these forces. Their aggression, barbarism and state-sponsored 
terrorism not only in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan but 
also in Bosnia and various South American countries have 
surpassed all the records known to human history. Contrary to 
it, our great nation has always been known for impartiality 
and its moral and spiritual values. Now the situation has 
worsened so far that every Indian Muslim especially those 
associated with madrasas, who are innocent with good record 
of characters, are always gripped by the fear that they might 
be trapped by the administrative machinery anytime. And, 
today countless number of innocent Muslims are spending their 
lives behind the bars and are forced to bear many intolerable 
tortures. And, those spreading terror, attacking police 
stations, killing the police in broad daylight and showing 
illegal arms are roaming about freely with no effective and 
preventive steps being taken by the government to check their 
acts of terrorism and violence. This partial attitude has put 
a big question mark on the secular character of the 
government posing great threats to the country. Therefore, 
this All India Anti-Terrorism Conference strongly condemns 
this attitude and expresses its deep concern on this 
partiality of government officials and declares its 
continuous joint struggles for domination of law, justice and 
secular system. 
 
This conference strongly demands the Indian Government to 
curb those maligning the madras as and Muslims. The 
administrative machinery should be demanded to conduct 
impartial investigations in activities disturbing public 
peace in the country and to punish only those found guilty. 
It also demands to free the accused if he is found innocent 
and punish severely those officials who accused him of crimes 
of terrorism. No person of any particular community should be 
suspected without solid reasons. In short, the government 
agencies must fulfill their duty justly without any prejudice 
 
NEW DELHI 00000623  005.2 OF 005 
 
 
and bias so that real peace and security may prevail in the 
country. 
 
This All India Anti-Terrorism Conference appeals to all 
intellectuals, writers and media persons to independently and 
honestly analyze the national and international affairs and 
avoid to biased and partial attitudes. 
 
Moreover, this All India anti-Terrorism Conference attended 
by the representatives of all schools of thought appeal to 
all Muslims to continue, as they always did in the past, 
their loyalty towards the dear motherland and love and 
respect towards humanity. It appeals to them to fully 
understand the present alarming situation, the gravity and 
intensity of the time, and feel the pulse of the present 
world so that they might not be employed as tools of evils by 
anti-Islamic or anti-national forces. It peals to them to 
live with dignity and pride being faithful to the country, to 
keep full trust on their leadership, render full support to 
Islamic madarsas which are valuable assets of the Muslim 
Ummah, spend their lives in the country following Islamic 
Shariah and teachings with full confidence. They should 
always remember that most important things are Islam and 
practicing it, and, hence, their prime focus should be on 
enriching their lives with good deeds and noble manners as, 
in fact, worldly situations deteriorate because of 
non-practice of Islamic teachings. 
 
Need for holding state-wise conferences against terrorism. 
 
This meeting of working committee of All India madarsas 
association feels necessary to hold state-wise conferences as 
it held this grand conference in view of the existing 
situations. The present situation of the country demands the 
joint and constant efforts being made to denounce terrorism, 
biased and discriminatory attitudes of the government against 
the Muslim community. It needs such conferences to be held in 
the major places of all the states. This meeting appeals to 
Darnl Uloom Deoband to act as a leader in this direction. 
 
Issued by: Central office, Islamic Madrasas Association 
 
------------------------ 
End text of declaration. 
MULFORD