US embassy cable - 02ABUJA3296

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 003296 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2012 
TAGS: SOCI, KISL, PGOV, PINS, PINR, KPAO, NI 
SUBJECT: NIGERIA:  PROTESTS AND PRAYERS IN KATSINA 
 
REF: TD-314/32127-02 
 
 
Classified by DCM Timothy D. Andrews.  Reason 1.5 (D). 
 
 
1.  (U)  Peaceful protests have been taking place recently 
in Nigeria's northern Katsina state, reportedly sponsored 
by the "Shi'ite" Muslim Brotherhood, among others.  Taking 
place before and after Friday's Juma'at prayers, the number 
of protests increased during the Holy month of Ramadan. 
According to press reports, some of the signs carried by 
protesters include "Death to America," "Death to Israel," 
and "No to America's Middle East Policy."  One protestor 
told a national newspaper that the aim of the protests was 
to convince the GON to change its foreign policy towards 
the U.S. and the U.K. because they are "enemies of Islam" 
and against Nigeria's putative Muslim majority. 
 
 
2.  (U)  A Sunni group, Izalatu Bid'a wa Ikamatus Sunna 
(Izala), has also been sponsoring prayers in mosques 
throughout the state.  Anti-American diatribes were 
reportedly strongest at the Kofar Kaura Juma'at Mosque, 
where the "wrath of God" was invoked against America and 
its allies, notably Israel, Britain and Russia. 
 
 
3.  (U)  Press reports identified the following clerics 
with the prayers and protests: 
 
 
- Chief Imam Sheikh Muhammed Sani Kerau 
- Sheikh Yakubu Musa 
- Ustaz Abdullah Yusuf Filin Samji 
- Ustaz Khalid Yunus 
- Ustaz Abdul Basir Unguwar Kawo Kankara. 
 
 
4.  (C) NOTE:  Izala is a Wahabbi-influenced movement 
founded in 1978 by the late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi. 
It has a large presence in major northern population 
centers. The Izala use modern teaching methods to impart 
traditional, essentially conservative, religious precepts. 
Izala has become more activist in recent years; its members 
were key players in the successful drive to establish 
Sharia-based criminal codes in a dozen northern states. 
On the other hand, Nigeria's Muslim Brothers are commonly 
called "Shi'ites" because of their leader, Ibrahim el- 
Zakzaky's longstanding ties to Iran.  The Muslim Brothers 
have a long tradition of political activism (e.g., protest 
marches).  END NOTE. 
 
 
5.  (C)  COMMENT:  For more information on Sheikh Musa, see 
reftel.  The continuing violence in the Palestinian 
territories fuels the erroneous but nearly universal 
perception that the USG is entirely unsympathetic to the 
Palestinian desires for self-determination and an end to 
Israeli occupation.   Because of this, hardline Islamic 
leaders find a fertile field in northern Nigeria to sow the 
seeds of anti-American sentiment.  Additional Mission 
reporting on Northern views of the U.S., including a 
response to State 251043, is being prepared. 
JETER