US embassy cable - 04SANAA1565

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 001565 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
TERREP 
 
DS/ICI/PII, DS/ICI/CI, DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/NEA, S/CT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2014 
TAGS: ASEC, PTER, YM, COUNTER TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: AMERICAN NGO REPRESENTATIVE FORWARDS INCITEMENT 
LETTER TO EMBASSY - 6/22/04 
 
REF: SANAA 1536 
 
Classified By: A/RSO Jonathan M. Cullen, for reasons 1.5 (B), (C) and ( 
D) 
 
1.  (S/NF)  SUMMARY: On 6/22/04, a U.S. non-governmental 
organization (NGO) representative forwarded an incitement 
letter to the RSO, explaining that copies were delivered 
anonymously to an Islah party leader.  The letter calls for 
supporting Jihad with money and fighting Jews and Christians. 
 The NGO representative assessed that the message was 
intended for Islah leaders who have condemned terrorism.  The 
Islah leader believes the author may be Iranian.  The 
translated text is provided below.  RSO notified appropriate 
Embassy and host nation officials.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (SBU)  On 6/22/04, the Sanaa-based director of a U.S. 
NGO, who has resided in Yemen for the last three years, 
passed the RSO a letter entitled "Iraqis Girls are being 
raped by the American Soldiers."  The letter specifically 
calls upon "scholars of the nation" to support Jihad by 
providing money and "fighting our enemies the Jews and the 
Christians and their supporters." 
 
3.  (S/NF)  According to the NGO representative, an 
unidentified, presumably Yemeni individual placed 
approximately 11 copies under Islah Party Director Mohammed 
Qahtan's door.  The letters were addressed to senior Islah 
members, including Sheikh Zindani and Sheikh Abdullah 
Al-Ahmar.  (Note: Islah is an Islamic-oriented political 
party, constituting the main opposition to the leading 
General People's Congress party.) 
 
4.  (SBU)  The NGO representative opined that the letter is 
intended to send a message to influential Islamists in Yemen 
who, since the bombing of the USS Cole in 10/2000, have 
published statements condemning acts of terrorism. 
 
5.  (S/NF)  Qahtan told the NGO representative that he 
believes the author could be Iranian based on the tone and 
diction of the Shia-oriented language.  Further, the letter 
is written in high-level Arabic by an educated individual. 
Finally, one of the addressees has been dead for three years. 
 
6.  (U)  The letter opens with one verse each from the Quran 
and the Hadith.  In addition, five icon-size photographs 
depicting Iraqi prisoner abuse in Abu Graib prison are 
attached to the top of the page. 
 
7.  (U)  Begin translated text: 
 
In order to clear our conscience, we write this letter to the 
heirs of the prophets, to the keepers of the land and leaders 
of the nation, who received the leadership role from the 
supreme leader prophet Mohammed who at the time of his 
leadership expelled the Jew of Qaino'qa and took their women, 
children, money and lands as spoils of war because they 
exposed a Muslim woman's loin.  But where are those who hold 
the leadership position from the Prophet Mohammed when the 
honor of Muslim women in Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan, 
Chechnya, Iraq and other places is assaulted. 
 
Don't you see?  Aren't you ardent about your religion and 
your sisters?  We ask you to think and don't be like those 
living who don't recognize it.  Wake up; scholars of the 
nation, without you the nation will never rise.  Realize the 
dimension of the danger and the rapid momentum of events that 
are going on.  Apply the duty assigned to you by Allah to 
defend the religion and save the nation, by supporting Jihad 
with money, incitation and fighting our enemies the Jews and 
the Christians and their supporters. 
 
You should learn that the best Jihad is a righteous and true 
word to an unjust Sultan (ruler). 
 
People of interests and corruption, what is more of a blight 
than destroying the foundation of Islam and assaulting our 
honor.  We say to those who mouth isn't able to speak the 
truth and who are unable to prevent hard descending on their 
families, leave us alone, we are moving on with the 
protection of Allah.  End translated text. 
 
8.  (SBU)  Legatt, Political/Economic and Political-Military 
offices were notified. 
 
9.  (SBU)  RSO raised this issue with high-level Ministry of 
Interior contacts on 6/23/04. 
 
10.  (U)  Point of contact for this report is RSO Timothy 
Laas, tel: 011-967-1-303-155/9, ext. 2218. 
HULL