US embassy cable - 05SANTIAGO1686

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTIAGO 001686 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC, NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, CI 
SUBJECT: CHILE'S MUSLIM COMMUNITY 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Craig A. Kelly.  Reasons: 1.4 (b and d). 
 
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Summary 
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1. (S) Chile's Muslim community is fractured and comprises 
less than one half of one percent of the country's 
population.  The Palestinian community is relatively large 
(estimated at 350,000), mostly Christian, and fully 
assimilated.  The small size of Chile,s Muslim community, 
together with its apparent balkanization, means there is 
little information generally available on its dynamics and 
personalities.  Chilean intelligence and police authorities 
are monitoring some groups.  Until recently, however, they 
have not been particularly aggressive, given Chilean legal 
strictures on intelligence operations and a general Chilean 
belief that there is no immediate, serious threat of 
terrorism from this community.  End summary. 
 
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Low Numbers and a Slow Start 
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2. (U) The July transit bombings in London have prompted a 
few articles in the Chilean press looking at Chile,s Muslim 
population.  According to the 2002 census, there were 2894 
persons identified as Muslims in Chile, comprising less than 
0.03 percent of the population.  A higher estimate, contained 
in a paper by a Chilean Muslim scholar, estimates there are 
5000 Muslims currently in Chile, of whom about 350 are 
practicing.  According to historical census figures, 2002 
actually marked Chile,s highest percentage of Muslims since 
1907.  In that year, 1498 Muslims comprised 0.04 percent of 
the population.  By 1920, registered Muslim numbers had 
dropped to only 402. 
 
3. (U) In 1926, the Society of United Chilean Muslims was 
founded in Santiago, followed in 1927 by the Islamic Society 
of Mutual Aid and Charity in Villa Alemana (approximately 75 
miles west of Santiago).  Chile saw its first mosque built in 
1988-89.  It was inaugurated in 1996 under charismatic leader 
Haji Taufik Rumie, who originally led prayers in his house. 
He died in 1998.  Taufik was succeeded by Usama Abu Gazaleh. 
In 1997-99, a second mosque was built in the far northern 
city of Iquique, to serve Muslims (many Pakistani traders) 
who arrived with the 1972 establishment of the Iquique Free 
Trade Zone. 
 
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Fractured Community 
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4. (U) Chile's Muslim community is also fractured, as 
illustrated by recent polemics over control and direction of 
the Mohammed VI Cultural Center and mosque (Chile's third 
mosque) in Coquimbo (approximately 290 miles north of 
Santiago).  The Center, which reportedly cost USD 875,000 and 
was financed in equal parts by the Government of Morocco and 
the Coquimbo municipality, is scheduled for completion in 
August 2005.  The Moroccan Embassy in Chile will be 
responsible for Islamic instruction.  While the mayor of 
Coquimbo ran into some local opposition for approving the 
mosque, the area's predominantly Christian community appears 
to be cautiously accepting the new worship center.  As noted 
by one long-term resident, "People here are not frightened 
when speaking of religion; they are frightened by talking 
about it loudly."  The polemics have arisen from within 
Chile,s Muslim community, with differing groups debating 
whether the Sunnis or the Shias should guide the theoretical 
orientation of the mosque.  Coquimbo's mayor and the 
Argentine-based Shiites who are advising on the project also 
have been verbally attacked. 
 
5. (U) In response, Fuad Musa, Shiite president of the 
Santiago-based Center for Islamic Culture, has called for the 
Chilean authorities to investigate the self-described Sunni 
group as a dangerous group, "These people are Wahabis, and 
one doesn't know what they are capable of doing." 
 
6. (U) According to a web-based report by a young Chilean 
Muslim, a Tabligh faction began to dominate the Santiago 
mosque in 1998.  While of unknown accuracy, this web-based 
report is interesting in part because it suggests a division 
between a Chilean Muslim grouping, and others, such as 
Pakistanis or "Arabs."  According to the same web-based 
report, the Bilal mosque in Iquique (approximately 1150 miles 
north of Santiago) has problems between its leader, Abdul 
Ghaffer Qureshim ("of Salafi ideology"), the "Tabligh 
tendencies" from Santiago, and the "berrelwies" (NFI).  The 
author notes the existence of a Chilean Muslim group (as 
opposed to Pakistani or Arab), under Muhammad Omar, working 
in Chile's central region. 
 
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Chileans Tolerant but Wary 
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7. (U) Touching on the Coquimbo mosque and London attacks, an 
August 1 article in the daily "La Segunda" asked prominent 
Chilean historian Julio Retamal, and well-known international 
consultant Daniel Prieto, their opinions on Islamic 
objectives in Chile.  Both agreed that the Coquimbo mosque 
was part of deliberate Islamic expansion around the world, 
with Retamal emphasizing a "peaceful penetration, not 
terrorism."  Prieto sounded more cautionary notes in the 
article, both on the susceptibility of the poor to 
conversion, and on the historical link between madrasas and 
extremism.  Interestingly, Prieto noted that what Chileans 
should be asking themselves is why Venezuelan President 
Chavez is receiving the high-level emissaries of countries 
like Iran and Syria, but not the leaders of moderate Arab 
states. 
 
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Chile's "Palestinian" Population: Virtually all Christian 
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8. (U) Chile has a large Palestinian community, with 
government officials asserting Chile has the largest 
Palestinian community -- at 350,000 -- in the world, outside 
of the Middle East.  The vast bulk of these Palestinians, 
however, arrived during the late 1800s and early 1900s exodus 
of Christians from the collapsing Ottoman empire.  They are 
now into their third and fourth generations, fully 
assimilated into Chilean society.  Many not only are 
prominent businessmen, but are government officials in the 
Foreign Ministry and Presidential Palace.  The owner of "La 
Segunda newspaper," which ran the recent article warning of 
Muslim penetration of Chile, is owned by Alvaro Saieh, a 
product of this Christian branch of Palestinian immigration. 
 
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Comment 
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9. (S) The Embassy actively works with the GOC to encourage 
monitoring of Chile's Muslim organizations, particularly 
groups connected with the Iquique Free Trade Zone.  These 
groups are known to have connections with Muslim 
organizations in the Tri-Border region of Argentina, Brazil 
and Paraguay.  There is intelligence information indicating 
that Iquique groups contribute to fundraising for Islamic 
charitable organizations and possibly others.  Given the 
Moroccan government,s reported funding and instructional 
support to the Coquimbo Islamic Center, Post will consult 
with the Moroccan Embassy here to see if they are willing or 
able to provide additional insight into local Muslim politics 
and developments. 
 
10. (S/NF) The small size of Chile's Muslim community, and 
its apparent balkanization, means there is little information 
generally available on its dynamics and personalities.  While 
GOC intelligence/police authorities are monitoring some 
groups, until recently the GOC has not been particularly 
aggressive, given Chilean legal strictures on intelligence 
operations and a likely lack of conviction that there is a 
serious threat.  As reported in other channels, recent GOC 
actions such as the August 7 raid activity against Hizballah 
target Ali Mohammad Rashid in Iquique and Santiago would seem 
to presage a change in the historically cautious policy 
against radical Muslim personalities in Chile.  We also 
intend to talk with the pro-U.S. Lebanese ambassador in Chile 
about Hizbollah activities here. 
KELLY