VZCZCXRO0444
RR RUEHLN RUEHSK RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0688/01 1551238
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041238Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0392
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0097
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0003
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0079
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0848
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0137

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000688 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR ECA/PE/V/R/N T.J. GRUBISHA, SCA/CEN, DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KPAO KIRF KISL PINR TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK IMAMS RETURN FROM UNITED STATES WITH NEW OUTLOOK ON 
AMERICAN POLICY AND RELIGION 
 
DUSHANBE 00000688  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: On June 1 CAO and PolOffs met with Domullo 
Numonkhon and Mullo Abdurahim, two of the five independent Tajik 
imams who traveled to the United States on the International 
Visitor Leadership Program.  Numonkhon and Abdurahim are both 
conservative, and both had criticized U.S. foreign policy in the 
Muslim world during meetings with EmbOffs.  The imams were 
overwhelmed by America's religious freedom and tolerance, 
although they expressed concerns about converts from Islam, 
revealing attire and polytheistic religions.  While still 
concerned about U.S. foreign policy, they expressed support for 
the U.S. effort in Iraq and said they would talk about their 
trip extensively in the future.  End summary. 
 
 
 
THE GOOD: SCHOOLS, FREEDOM AND FOGGY BOTTOM 
 
 
 
¶3. (U) The five Imams traveled to Washington, Dallas, Los 
Angeles, Detroit and New York City.  They were consistently most 
impressed by religious schools, both Muslim and non-Muslim, 
which they visited in Dallas and Dearborn, Michigan.  Both were 
surprised that students who graduate from parochial schools can 
enter U.S. universities, and that the degrees are equivalent to 
secular schools - a sharp contrast from Tajikistan, where 
madrassas are tightly controlled and of poor quality and degrees 
from the Islamic Institute were not recognized until this year. 
 
 
 
¶4. (U) Many meetings in Washington also seemed to resonate with 
the Imams, who said they found American officials "humble, and 
not arrogant like our officials are."  They met jointly with the 
National Security Council and SCA at the State Department and 
said they thought the discussion was extremely interesting. 
 
 
 
¶5. (U) Neither of the imams has significantly changed their 
opinion of U.S. foreign policy, although Numonkhon said he would 
"give President Obama some time."  Surprisingly, Mullo Abdurahim 
said "We completely accept the policy of Barack Obama in Iraq." 
He said he served in Afghanistan during the Soviet Union's 
invasion, and "I know that it is impossible to obtain anything 
there through military means."  He cited a lack of jobs and 
increasing drug production as signs that the situation in 
Afghanistan is not improving. 
 
 
 
¶6. (U) Both Imams said they now have a more positive view of 
American domestic policy.  They were stunned by the freedom the 
U.S. Government gives to all religions, saying "It really is 100 
percent religious freedom - more than I could ever have 
imagined." Abdurahim even suggested it was "too much," citing 
Buddhists, who "don't know who they are and don't know why they 
came into this world." They commented that while officials in 
Washington had assured them of American religious freedom during 
their initial meetings, they didn't actually believe it until 
they heard testimony from Muslims themselves. 
 
 
 
 
 
THE BAD: CONVERTS, SHORTS~AND BUDDHISTS? 
 
 
 
¶7. (U) One Imam opened the meeting with a discussion of Islam's 
view on "infidels," i.e. people who were born Muslim but later 
converted to other religions.  According to him, Muslims should 
never talk to these people.  When asked if this had been a 
problem in the United States, he replied no, but that several 
groups - run by women, he pointed out - had not seemed to take 
this problem so seriously.  Both Imams also questioned the faith 
of a Buddhist priest who had converted from Catholicism and 
"didn't look Japanese." 
 
 
 
¶8. (U) The visit to a Buddhist temple in Los Angeles did seem to 
make an indelible impression on the Imams, who are still 
debating whether polytheists are atheists or not. They also seem 
 
DUSHANBE 00000688  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
to equate Buddhists, along with "Hollywood stars," with gay 
marriage.  In general, the Imams were hesitant about interacting 
with other religions.  Their interpreter reported that they 
would not enter a Sikh home because religious idols were 
displayed inside, and they also declined to enter the National 
Cathedral in Washington.  Unfortunately, this incident led to 
the cancellation of meetings with Jewish groups, depriving the 
Imams of a chance to interact with another faith. 
 
 
 
¶9. (U) The group adjusted somewhat to cultural norms in the 
United States, but still commented that they felt uncomfortable 
riding the subway in New York and Washington and seeing people 
in shorts. One said "it's just too much temptation." 
 
 
 
WHAT'S NEXT? 
 
 
 
¶10. (SBU) Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda, a well-known independent 
politician and religious figure, told EmbOffs that Numonkhon and 
Abdurahim came to his house for dinner shortly after our 
meeting.  He spent the evening discussing the trip with the 
imams, and he encouraged them to talk about their experiences 
during their sermons at Friday prayers.  EmbOffs have heard from 
many Tajiks who visit Abdurahim's mosque that they are eagerly 
anticipating Abdurahim speaking about his impressions of the 
United States. 
 
 
 
¶11. (SBU) Comment: This trip was an extremely important aspect 
of our engagement with Tajikistan's Sunni leadership.  Despite 
continued skepticism about some aspects of life in the United 
States and about U.S. foreign policy, both Numonkhon and 
Abdurahim said that they simply did not have time process how 
transformational their trip was.  They could not fathom how rich 
and diverse religious life in America truly is.  They are 
discussing their trip among themselves and with other important 
religious figures.  The five imams preach to a combined 
estimated audience of 25,000 people each Friday; they reach even 
more through DVDs and recordings.  Their comments about the 
United States will be very influential among the increasing 
number of Tajiks who attend mosques.  Numonkhon took a cell 
phone video of a young American girl reciting the Koran in 
Arabic.  We estimate that hundreds, if not thousands of people 
will see this video and express amazement that it was shot in 
the United States.  The examples the imams have brought back 
have a strong potential to change attitudes toward America in 
the places it is most important. 
 
 
 
¶12. We selected another group of imams for participation in the 
FY2010 International Visitor Leadership Program and would like 
to continue this outreach in the future, despite receiving fewer 
slots in the program each year.  It will be equally important to 
continue to engage with imams after they return to Tajikistan. 
 
End comment. 
JACOBSON