US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI877

S E C R E T NEW DELHI 000877 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, IN, BG, India-Bangladesh 
SUBJECT: GOI NON-PAPER ON ATTACKS ON BANGLADESHI AHMEDIYAS 
 
REF: 04 NEW DELHI 5486 
 
Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt,  Reasons 1.5 (B,D). 
 
1.  (C) On January 27, MEA Director (Americas) Renu Pall gave 
us the following non-paper on 2003-04 attacks against 
Ahmediyas in Bangladesh.  This non-paper was originally 
referenced by our GOI interlocutors during the August 
31-September 1, 2004 US-India Counterterrorism Joint Working 
Group (CTJWG) meeting in New Delhi. 
 
2.  (S) Begin lightly-edited text: 
 
Title: "Attacks on Ahmediyas" 
 
In November 2003, a mob in Dhaka attacked members of the 
Ahmediya sect (or "Kadianis" as they are called in 
Bangladesh).  Several hundred people tried to prevent the 
Ahmediyas from entering a mosque on a Friday after the Imam 
of the Rehaim Metal Mosque exhorted all "real Muslims" to 
wage a jihad against the "kafir Kadianis." 
 
In January 2004, the Bangladeshi government announced a ban 
on the publications of the Ahmediya community.  This decision 
was reportedly taken at the highest levels.  Reports indicate 
that this anti-Ahmediya campaign is being provoked by the 
Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), a member of the four-party ruling 
alliance.  This announcement of the ban came shortly before 
an ultimatum by the Hifazate Khatme Nabuwat Andolan (HKNA) 
seeking the excommunication of the Ahmediyas. 
 
The government also announced the withdrawal of cases against 
some 12,000 anti-Ahmediya activists including dropping 
charges for assaulting policemen during demonstrations in 
Dhaka in November-December 2003. 
 
On April 16, 2004 several anti-Ahmediya activists entered the 
Ahmediya mosque in Dhaka.  Police failed to take action 
against this. 
 
In late April 2004, the houses of 12 Ahmediyas in Badarganj 
(Rangpur district) were vandalized.  Subsequently, an attempt 
to capture the Ahmediya mosque in the same area was prevented 
by police. 
 
An Islamic outfit "Aamra Dhaka Bashi" announced on 23 August, 
2004 its plan to besiege the Ahmediya Headquarters complex at 
Bakshi Bazar, Dhaka, on 27 August, 2004, to demand the 
declaration of Ahmediyas as "non-Muslims." 
 
Reportedly, Imams and Maulvis at different places throughout 
Bangladesh have started issuing fatwas calling for social 
ostracizing and boycotts against Ahmediyas. 
 
The GOB has not shown much concern over the threat.  State 
Minister for Religious Affairs Musharraf Hussain Shahjahan 
disclaimed any responsibility in the regard and State 
Minister for Home Lutfussaman Babar said that he did not have 
details about the issue. 
 
The human rights organization Amnesty International, in a 
report posted on its website entitled, "Bangladesh:  The 
Ahmediya community - Their Rights Must Be Protected," called 
upon the GOB to lift the ban on Ahmediya publications. 
 
US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina 
Rocca during her visit to Bangladesh in May 2004 was also 
outspoken about religious intolerance in the country.  She 
visited the Ahmediya Mosque and in a public statement said, 
"religious minorities must be protected, not stigmatized or 
victimized by book banning and attacks on their places of 
worship."  She also hoped that Bangladesh would continue "on 
the road to being a tolerant country." 
 
End text. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
3.  (C)  Pall made no request for USG action on the above 
matter.  In the context of our ongoing dialogue regarding 
Bangladesh and CT cooperation, Mission would appreciate 
Washington's perspective on the veracity of this data. 
MULFORD