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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kamatha" data-source="post: 17075668" data-attributes="member: 154676">“Ambassador hosted prominent Muslim leaders for a roundtable  discussion on Muslim issues to mark the holy month of Ramadan.  Participants noted the absence of Al-Qaida and other radical Islamist  terror groups but expressed concern about a growing Wahhabi presence,  and the need to address social problems within the Muslim community  before radical ideas begin to resonate with the youth.” the US Embassy  Colombo informed Washington. <a href="http://www.webproxy.net/view?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colombotelegraph.com%2Findex.php%2Fwikileaks-a-growing-wahhabi-presence-in-eastern-province-muslim-leaders%2Fwa&q1=hhabi-2%2F" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.webproxy.net/view?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colombotelegraph.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F03%2FWahhabi1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a>The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the <a href="http://www.webproxy.net/view?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colombotelegraph.com%2F%3Fs%3DWikiLeaks%26amp%3Bx%3D10%26amp%3By%3D1" target="_blank">WikiLeaks</a> database. The cable is written on October 9, 2007 by the US Ambassador to Colombo <a href="http://www.webproxy.net/view?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colombotelegraph.com%2F%3Fs%3DRobert%2BO.%2BBlake%26amp%3Bx%3D7%26amp%3By%3D6" target="_blank">R</a><a href="http://www.webproxy.net/view?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colombotelegraph.com%2F%3Fs%3DRobert%2BO.%2BBlake%26amp%3Bx%3D7%26amp%3By%3D6" target="_blank">obert O. Blake</a>. On October 2, Ambassador Blake hosted prominent Muslim leaders for a  roundtable discussion on Muslim issues. Participants included Principal  of Zahira College T.K. Azoor, former Attorney General Shibly Aziz,  Chairman of the Muslim Peace Secretariat A.M.M. Faaiz, and Chairman of  the Islamic Center of Sri Lanka M.H. Mohamed. Ambassador Blake wrote; “Participants expressed concern about land  rights for Muslims in both the Eastern Province and the North-Western  Province. Despite historically good relations with both Hindus and  Buddhists, Muslims now face some resistance to their activities, even in  Colombo. For the most part, however, they remained optimistic about  relations between Muslims and both Sinhalese and Tamils and confident  that Sri Lankan Muslims would remain moderate and peaceful. Ambassador  assured the Muslim leaders that the U.S. is paying close attention to  religious freedom and other concerns raised during the discussion and  regularly encourages the GSL to listen to and address the concerns of  the Muslim community” Under the subheading “Wahhabi Influence Growing” the ambassador  wrote; “Participants noted that Islam in Sri Lanka has traditionally  been both moderate and peaceful. Lately, however, they observe a growing  <a href="http://www.webproxy.net/view?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colombotelegraph.com%2F%3Fs%3DWahhabi%26amp%3Bx%3D10%26amp%3By%3D5" target="_blank">Wahhabi</a>  presence, based mostly in the town of Kattankudy in Eastern Province.  Fortunately, they said, there are not yet any ‘jihadi’ groups present in  Sri Lanka. Muslim leaders have made a point of teaching youth to ‘shun  this path.’ They expressed a concern however, that if social problems  within the Muslim community are not addressed, radical ideas may begin  to resonate. The growing influence of the Wahhabis has led to  intra-religous tensions and increased intolerance of minority Muslim  sects such as the Sufis.” Placing a comment the ambassador wrote; “The roundtable participants  seemed eager to share their concerns and appreciative of an audience  with the U.S. Embassy. They welcomed U.S. intervention with the GSL to  encourage fair treatment of Muslims. For the most part, however, they  remained optimistic about relations between Muslims and both Sinhalese  and Tamils and confident that Sri Lankan Muslims would remain moderate  and peaceful.” Read the cable below for further details; VZCZCXRO3992 OO RUEHBI RUEHLMC DE RUEHLM #1387/01 2820628 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 090628Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6938 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0547 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0450 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7437 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5575 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4060 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1437 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 4113 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 0284 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3202 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 8034 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5653 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0413 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2361 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION PRIORITY UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001387   SIPDIS   SIPDIS   DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS MCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE   E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE SUBJECT: MUSLIM LEADERS VOICE CONCERNS ABOUT LAND RIGHTS AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM   REF: A. COLOMBO 1106        ¶B. COLOMBO 977   ¶1.  (U)  SUMMARY: On October 2, Ambassador hosted prominent Muslim leaders for a roundtable discussion on Muslim issues to mark the holy month of Ramadan.  Participants noted the absence of Al-Qaida and other radical Islamist terror groups but expressed concern about a growing Wahhabi presence, and the need to address social problems within the Muslim community before radical ideas begin to resonate with the youth.  Participants expressed concern about land rights for Muslims in both the Eastern Province and the North-Western Province.  Despite historically good relations with both Hindus and Buddhists, Muslims now face some resistance to their activities, even in Colombo.  For the most part, however, they remained optimistic about relations between Muslims and both Sinhalese and Tamils and confident that Sri Lankan Muslims would remain moderate and peaceful. Ambassador assured the Muslim leaders that the U.S. is paying close attention to religious freedom and other concerns raised during the discussion and regularly encourages the GSL to listen to and address the concerns of the Muslim community.  End Summary.   ¶2.  (U)  On October 2, Ambassador hosted prominent Muslim leaders for a roundtable discussion on Muslim issues. Participants included Principal of Zahira College T.K. Azoor, former Attorney General Shibly Aziz, Chairman of the Muslim Peace Secretariat A.M.M. Faaiz, and Chairman of the Islamic Center of Sri Lanka M.H. Mohamed.   Wahhabi Influence Growing ------------------------   ¶3.  (U)  Participants noted that Islam in Sri Lanka has traditionally been both moderate and peaceful.  Lately, however, they observe a growing Wahhabi presence, based mostly in the town of Kattankudy in Eastern Province. Fortunately, they said, there are not yet any "jihadi" groups present in Sri Lanka.  Muslim leaders have made a point of teaching youth to "shun this path."  They expressed a concern however, that if social problems within the Muslim community are not addressed, radical ideas may begin to resonate. The growing influence of the Wahhabis has led to intra-religous tensions and increased intolerance of minority Muslim sects such as the Sufis.   Concerns About Land and Property Rights ----------------------------------------   ¶4.  (U)  Participants expressed concern about land rights for Muslims.  They are being pushed by "both sides" (i.e., Sinhalese and Tamils) in the East, they said.  Earlier, the LTTE took Muslim lands, and now, the Sinhalese are working to reduce the presence and influence of Muslims in the East.  In the North-Western Province town of Puttalam, thousands of internally displaced persons from the early 1990s remain in camps, mainly Tamils evicted by the LTTE from Jaffna.  Many are unable to get land for housing or obtain business licenses.   Facing New Levels of Discrimination from Buddhists --------------------------------------------- -----   ¶5.  (U)  Historically, Muslims have had good relations with both Hindus and Buddhists in Sri Lanka.  According to some participants, however, the Sinhalese community feels threatened now and is reacting against Muslims.  In Colombo, they said, there is resistance to construction of new mosques.  They are unable to obtain permits to build, and if   COLOMBO 00001387  002 OF 002   they use homes as mosques, neighbors complain.  They noted that the Government is using policies such as a proposed new noise ordinance to limit Muslim activities.  Under the new law, they would not be allowed to issue the call to prayer over loudspeakers.   U.S. Sensitive to Muslim Issues ---------------------------------   ¶6.  (U)  Ambassador assured the Muslim leaders that the U.S. is paying close attention to the concerns raised during the discussion.  He noted that the Embassy is regularly encourages the GSL to listen to and address the concerns of the Muslim community and to solicit direct input from local communities when making policy decisions, particularly on sensitive issues like land rights.   ¶7.  (SBU)  COMMENT:  The roundtable participants seemed eager to share their concerns and appreciative of an audience with the U.S. Embassy.  They welcomed U.S. intervention with the GSL to encourage fair treatment of Muslims.  For the most part, however, they remained optimistic about relations between Muslims and both Sinhalese and Tamils and confident that Sri Lankan Muslims would remain moderate and peaceful. BLAKE</blockquote>

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