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[Wedi]

Saudi Arabia’s Wahabism and the threat to Ethiopia’s national security !!!

" It should be noted… that the great majority of Ethiopian Muslims are followers of Sunni Islam. Since there is religious tolerance in the country, Ethiopians have managed to escape destructive religious conflicts, which have become prevalent in many parts of the world. Lately, however, there has been a new development in the country, which, unless timely measures are taken to check it, could ultimately be a destabilizing factor in the region. This destabilizing factor, which, next to oil, has become the major export item of Saudi Arabia – is called Wahhabism . As the whole world knows, Saudi Arabia is a fundamentalist state. The type of Islam that it preaches and practices is not [the] Sunni Islam that we have lived with for centuries in Ethiopia, and that has become an integral part of our culture and history, but Wahhabism - a terrorist and violent form of Islam, that is responsible for the slaughter of thousands of innocent lives throughout the world."
Madrassas are Jihad Factories Financed by Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s Wahabism and the threat to Ethiopia’s national security
By Alem Zelalem | September 26, 2003

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have had deep historical roots in Ethiopia. If we take Islam, for instance, we could say that Ethiopians have been associated with it from the very beginning of Muslim history.

The much needed protection that the Ethiopians provided to the early followers of the Prophet Muhammed, and their refusal to hand them over to their enemies, as well as the logistical support they made available to the Prophet, occupy a special place in the history of Islam. Moreover, Umm Ayman, the Prophet Muhammad’s wet nurse, Bilal ibn Rabah, the first Muezzin who called Muslims to prayer, Caliph Omar al-Khattab’s mother, as well as Amir ibn al-As, who conquered Egypt in 640 A.D., and Abu Bakra, who led the siege on Taif, and many others, were all Ethiopians.

It should be noted also that the great majority of Ethiopian Muslims are followers of Sunni Islam. Since there is religious tolerance in the country, Ethiopians have managed to escape destructive religious conflicts, which have become prevalent in many parts of the world. Lately, however, there has been a new development in the country, which, unless timely measures are taken to check it, could ultimately be a destabilizing factor in the region. This destabilizing factor, which, next to oil, has become the major export item of Saudi Arabia – is called Wahabism.

As the whole world knows, Saudi Arabia is a fundamentalist state. The type of Islam that it preaches and practices is not Sunni Islam that we have lived with for centuries in Ethiopia, and that has become an integral part of our culture and history, but Wahabism - a terrorist and violent form of Islam, that is responsible for the slaughter of thousands of innocent lives throughout the world. Despite this, hundreds of mosques have been built in Ethiopia in the last seven years with Saudi finance with all the paraphernalia of madrassas - supposedly Muslim religious seminaries where students seat cross-legged on the floor to memorize the Koran. But in actual fact, madrassas are brain washing sessions and jihad factories nurturing potential bin Ladens, where students are taught not to live under “infidels”, and to hate Christians and Jews as a matter of religious duty. All the Saudi financed Mullahs- the directors of the madrassas are anti-American, anti-Christian and anti-Jewish. Why people should be taught to hate other people is beyond me. Nevertheless, planting the seeds of hatred in the minds of our youth goes contrary to our cultural values and principles. After the madrassas, innocent Ethiopian kids are taken to various countries in the Middle East for military training, and then return home to participate in the meticulously planned and widely coordinated jihad. So far, some 5,000 have already been trained. Incidentally, Shiite Iran is an active participant in this international brigandage. Since such activities have serious implications to the independence, peace and security of the country, we need to bring an end to it, before it takes deep roots.

The Saudis claim that Wahabism is a religion of peace and tolerance. But the truth is, what they say is a ridiculous fiction that is not borne by facts. The history of Wahabism has been a history of jihad, plunder, conquest, intolerance and violence. One has only to read the history of Wahabism and to investigate what its followers like Bin Laden are doing throughout the world. Their cruelty and barbarism, and their lies and hypocrisy, know no bounds. Historically, Wahabism is associated with the removal of head stones from the graves of the members of the family of the Prophet Muhammed, and the desecration of Sheite shrines in Najaz and Karbala in Iraq, and the struggle for power in what was yet to become Saudi Arabia. Once its followers took power, they did whatever they could to destroy Ethiopia. Every Ethiopian knows this. For example, the secessionist war in Eritrea (1958-1991), which was designed to make Ethiopia land-locked, was largely financed by Saudi Arabia. Likewise, Saudi finance made it possible for Somalia to invade Ethiopia in 1977- 1978. The Saudi authorities may deny this, but it is widely documented. White gloves will never hide blood stained hands. The western world is just waking up to the truth and reality of Wahabism. But Ethiopians have known it for too long. Nothing has changed, not even their irrationality. But then, one should not expect anything rational from 1,500 princes who multiply from within. Rational things can only be discussed with rational people. Despite what our country had done to save Islam from extinction, our fate became provocation, subversion, terrorism, out right aggression and economic blockade, as a way of expressing their “gratitude” to us. Let us note that these horrendous acts of barbarism have all been done against Ethiopia, in violation of the teachings and instructions of the Prophet Muhammad. Yet, they call themselves followers of the Prophet, and “custodians of the Holy Places of Islam.”

They wanted to covert us to Wahabism against our will, and we fiercely resisted them, for which they have never excused us. The Wahabists know that they will never defeat Ethiopia militarily. Since they recognize that their aggression will be fiercely resisted by the people of Ethiopia, they have now changed their tactics and want to conquer us through deceit, or so they hope, without even firing a single bullet.

Mentioning the 1974 mass rally in Addis Ababa might help the Saudis to understand how Ethiopian Muslims and Christians relate with one another. In 1974, thousands of Ethiopian Christians joined their Muslim brothers and sisters in a demonstration in Addis Ababa, demanding equality between the two religions - something which cannot even be conceived in Saudi Arabia, or anywhere in the Arab world. One cannot, for example, imagine Egyptian Muslims demonstrating in the streets of Cairo supporting the rights of the Copts of Egypt, and still less, demanding for equality between Christians and Muslims in that country.

For Wahabists, a secular state like Ethiopia that strives to create the conditions where Christians and Muslims live in peace and equality is not acceptable. Why? Because Wahabism is a religion of power. Its adherents believe that they have a command from Allah to rule the entire world and to lord every nation on earth, and to force the rest of mankind to submit to them. To that end, they use the Jihad to overthrow the system of any non-Muslim country in order to establish Wahabi authority. Hence, the individual has no right to have a religion of his choice. Because of such a mind set, wherever they are, Wahabists are at war against non-Wahabists. Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, India, Yugoslavia, Russia, the USA, France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Indonesia, the Philippines, Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Egypt, Cyprus, Nubia, Sudan, Somalia, and Nigeria are only a few examples. Now they want to add Ethiopia to their list.

Wahabists do not allow Christians to build churches in Saudi Arabia. Why? Because to borrow their own language, the “infidels” will be “polluting” the “Holy soil” of Islam. Why then should they be allowed to build their mosques in the Christian world? King Faisal once requested the permission of Emperor Haile Selassie to let Saudi Arabia build mosques in Ethiopia. The emperor’s reply was, “yes, why not. But in return, Ethiopia should be permitted to build churches in Mecca, Medina and Nadjiran – places with which Ethiopians have historic ties.” There and then, Faisal dropped the subject and the matter was never raised again. Had they raised the same question to President Mengistu Haile Mariam, no doubt, his reply would have been equally appropriate. Today, however, it is a different story. Ethiopia is ruled by a sinister, treacherous and cynical clique that has no obligation to the maintenance of the unity and territorial integrity of the country, and stills less, to the defence and security of the Ethiopian state.

Saudi Arabia wants a free ride. It takes advantage of opportunities offered by liberal democratic societies to spread its poisonous Wahabism in the USA, Europe, Africa, and elsewhere by building mosques. Yet, American, European, and African missionaries will not be permitted to build churches in Saudi Arabia. As far as Riyadh is concerned, life is a one-way street. There is no reciprocity, and no competition in ideas, and there will be none. One would have hoped that religion was a struggle to win the hearts and minds of individuals, but not for Saudi Arabia. Its religion is an instrument for subversion, penetration, terrorism, domination and colonization. For example, by taking advantage of the unfortunate economic conditions of the downtrodden Ethiopian masses, the Saudi Embassy in Addis Ababa is busy bribing people to convert to Islam. The usual amount that they pay is 5,000 birr, which is some $600.00 A friend of mine who attends school in San Francisco went home for vacation to Ethiopia and returned to California a couple of weeks ago. Among other things, here is what he told me:

“I drove from Addis Ababa to Asebe Teferie, a distance of 350 kms (217miles). Where there were only two or three mosques in the past, now, I could see more than one hundred mosques. Then, I returned back and drove from Addis Ababa to Shashimene, a distance of some 250 kms (155 miles), again to see another 130 brand new mosques. At the end of each trip, I made it a point to ask, “ Who built the mosques?” Invariably, the answer was the same – Saudi Arabia. Then he asked me, “what do this people want? What is their secret agenda?” I said to him, “the agenda is no longer secret. Saudi Arabia’s Wahabism is exploiting the poverty of our people and spreading its ugly tentacles to take over Ethiopia.”

However, the question is: who opened the doors of Ethiopia to Wahabism? Who authorized Saudi Arabia to do what it is doing today in Addis Ababa, and in the provinces of Shoa, Wollo, Gondar, Arusi, Wollega, Jimma, Harar, Sidamo, and indeed in the entire south? How much bribe did the Saudis have to pay to the corrupt and criminal authorities, who were brought to power with Saudi finance? What is even more surprising is that they wanted to build a mosque in Axum – a city where hardly any Muslims live. By opening Ethiopia’s doors to Wahabists, the ruling clique in Ethiopia has been collaborating with international terrorists.

Saudi Arabia is governed by an absolute monarchy. It has no constitution. No political parties and trade unions are permitted to function. Public floggings and amputations are common. The subjugation of women in that country is so mind-boggling, that they are not even permitted to drive cars. More than 2, 000 years ago, a Greek scholar named Eratosthenes, who served as a librarian in Alexandria, had calculated the circumference of the earth as being 24, 675 miles. He was almost accurate. He missed the actual figure by only 185 miles. Yet, today, in Wahabi Saudi Arabia, the grand mufti, Sheik Abdel Aziz Bin Baz, the chief jurist who has the authority to issue legal edicts called “fatwa”, could declare in 1990, that “the earth was not round, but flat.”

In contrast, Ethiopia is a country where a popular socialist revolution took place, which Saudi Arabia did everything in its power to subvert, abort and destabilize by paying millions of dollars (1974-1991), and where a series of political, cultural, and social revolutions continue to be carried out. There are hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian liberals, democrats, republicans, socialists, constitutional monarchists, social democrats and Marxists, organized in some twenty political parties competing for power. If the Saudi authorities have been wrongly informed by their agents about the reality in Ethiopia, then they should check their facts. Unlike the unfortunate Saudi women, Ethiopian women have always been equal to men. In the past, they served their country as heads of state and government, and even led armies in battle. Today, Ethiopian women serve as air force fighter and bomber pilots, tank commanders, parliamentarians, ambassadors, university professors, medical doctors, engineers, lawyers, journalists, and so on. They compete in world Olympics and win gold or silver medals. We have every intention to intensify the democratization process in our country. Our present economic difficulties, which would surely pass, cannot be exploited by Wahabists to distort and to pervert our cultural values. Saudi Arabia will be strongly advised to keep its hands off Ethiopia. We did not struggle against every conceivable colonialist and imperialist power in the past, and to come thus far, only to succumb to Saudi Arabian Wahabism. That would be an insult to our history and culture. The system that prevails in Saudi Arabia may be good for Saudi Arabia, but not for Ethiopia. We find it offensive to human freedom and dignity. It is absolutely unacceptable to our way of life. Wahabism has no place in our society. The sooner the ruling circles in Saudi Arabia realize this fact and leave us alone, the better.

The Wahabi threat to Ethiopia should be a matter of serious concern to the international community. Wahabism should not be permitted to play with fire. If the present trend is allowed to continue, it will have serious consequences for international peace and security. It will lead into an endless civil war in the country between Wahabists and Christians, and between Sunnis and Wahabists, and engulf the whole of Africa in turmoil. All this calls for a systematic and thorough investigation. We need to petition European parliamentarians and individual United States Senators and members of the House of Representatives, so that Saudi Arabia’s violation of Ethiopia’s security, sovereignty, and national independence, is raised at the United Nations, the United States Congress, as well as in the European Parliament. In this respect, I suggest that we write to the Secretary General of the United Nations, the United States Congress, and to the European Parliament, requesting that fact-finding missions be dispatched to Ethiopia as soon as possible.

[Wedi]

Ethiopia’s Vulnerability to Religious Extremism

I would go even further and argue that current issues reflect the variegated nature of Ethiopia’s problems that started after the 7th century, when the fledgling but politically and economically powerful Christian kingdom of Axum was severely weakened by the ascendancy of Islam. In subsequent periods, bloody battles took place between Muslims and the Christian Kingdom, but resolutions were achieved in one way or another and Islam and Christianity have peacefully co-existed in Ethiopia for centuries. Of course, there were always some who sought to stir religious conflict in order to achieve religious and political goals. Likewise, there are some today who are inspired by the emergence of extremist groups such as Al Qaeda, Islamic State, Alshabab and Boko Haram. Indeed, there are some whose dream is to fly the flag of Islamic State at Arat Kilo, the seat of Ethiopia’s political power.

Ethiopia’s Vulnerability to Religious Extremism

By Desta Heliso

I am often baffled when people consistently describe Ethiopia’s problems as exclusively ethnic or socio-political. Ethiopia has multiple problems, which are not unique to her and cannot be solved by a single magic bullet. One major problem Ethiopia is facing at the moment is religious extremism, which, in my view, is probably one of the biggest threats for her future. This is driven home to me by the recent terrorist attacks in Manchester and London. As my family and I currently live in the north-west of the Greater London area, it was particularly close to home. In this short article, I wish to express my long-held view that addressing issues of human rights, democracy or freedom without properly dealing with religious extremism would not bring about peace, justice and prosperity in Ethiopia. I wish to urge those who argue otherwise to think again.

These are truly troubled times for the Horn of Africa. Somalia, which is ethnically almost [deleted], is disintegrated. Djibouti is small and weak. Eritrea is isolated and supports groups such as Al Shabab. South Sudan is enduring a devastating civil war. Sudan is a fully Sharia State with enthusiasm and attempts to export its system to other countries. Extremist groups in Egypt are using the perceived threat the Great Renaissance Dam project poses to Egypt as a pretext to achieve their goals. All this makes Ethiopia extremely vulnerable. Those who live and work in Ethiopia will also know that religious radicalism was behind some of the unrest that took place in Ethiopia in recent years.

I would go even further and argue that current issues reflect the variegated nature of Ethiopia’s problems that started after the 7th century, when the fledgling but politically and economically powerful Christian kingdom of Axum was severely weakened by the ascendancy of Islam. In subsequent periods, bloody battles took place between Muslims and the Christian Kingdom, but resolutions were achieved in one way or another and Islam and Christianity have peacefully co-existed in Ethiopia for centuries. Of course, there were always some who sought to stir religious conflict in order to achieve religious and political goals. Likewise, there are some today who are inspired by the emergence of extremist groups such as Al Qaeda, Islamic State, Alshabab and Boko Haram. Indeed, there are some whose dream is to fly the flag of Islamic State at Arat Kilo, the seat of Ethiopia’s political power.

These radicals argue that Ethiopia used to be dar al Islam (‘land of Islam’) and must be reclaimed. These claims seem to be reinforced by various ideas and projects such as the restoration project of the tomb of King Armah/Nejashi and the oldest mosque in Tigray by the Turkish government. I believe the project will contribute to the preservation of the history and culture of our country. It will also bring in revenue through tourism. But for extremist elements, this is one step towards reclaiming Ethiopia as a land of Islam. Such claims may be treated as dangerous but they cannot be ignored, because the root of the claims is Wahhabi fundamentalism.

The expansion of Wahhabism in the Horn of Africa has been funded by the massive oil wealth of Saudi Arabia over the years. In Ethiopia, this goes back to early 20th century. For years, Wahhabism successfully employed stealth strategies. There was a time when projects, which were probably funded by Wahhabist ‘charities’, were freely operating in Ethiopia. It was only when Wahhabism showed its true colours elsewhere in the global arena that they were exposed. But Wahhabi extremism still continues to pose real threat to Ethiopia. This is exacerbated by what is happening in the neighbouring nations.

For example, a centuries old moderate form of Sufi Islam is endangered by the ascendancy of al-Shabaab in Somalia. Eritrea, who used to support the Houthi rebels in Yemen and was, therefore, friendly with Iran, has switched sides and is now a strong ally of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. A struggle for influence between Riyadh and Tehran is evident not only in Eritrea but also in Somaliland and the semi-autonomous Somali region of Puntland. The Sunni-Shiite battle in Yemen has made it possible for the Saudis and their allies to establish military bases in the region and draw Eritrea and Sudan into the battle against the Houthis. All this makes Ethiopia extremely vulnerable. Of course, Ethiopia cannot afford to severe its diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, but the fact that the Kingdom’s wealth is behind the increasing assertiveness of fundamentalist Wahhabism in the country is deeply worrying.

Having said all this, I do not think that the dream of Islamic extremists to establish a political government, which sustains puritanical Islamic doctrine through a strict application of Sharia, will come true in Ethiopia. But any success of a fundamentalist form of Islam in any part of the country could lead to religious conflict and potential disintegration of the country. That will probably end any hope of peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. So I urge all those who focus on the imperfections of the current system and the failures of the current government to consider this issue as well. Our deep and perhaps legitimate desire to perfect the democratic process and bring about the sort of ‘human-rights’ we have experienced in the West should not blind us to one of the greatest threats Ethiopia (and the world) is facing right now. Without safeguarding secular state and developing strong security, religious extremism cannot be tackled. If religious extremism is not properly tackled, democracy and freedom cannot be achieved or protected. Great Britain’s democratic process was threatened by the recent Manchester and London attacks by Islamic terrorists, as there was a question as to whether or not the election of 8th June 2017 should go ahead. Now Theresa May is promising to change the human rights law in order to restrict terrorist activities. Ethiopia’s ‘infant democracy’ and the limited freedom we enjoy would be even more severely threatened if similar sorts of attacks took place in our cities and towns, as the country is much more vulnerable than ever to religious extremism.

[Wedi]

Wikileaks: ‘Growing Wahabi influence in Ethiopia’

Likewise, in the Oromiya Region of Ethiopia, Wahabi influence is clearly growing rapidly and the Wahabi leadership in the country is heavily, if not exclusively, Oromo. At the same time, an Ambassador-hosted lunch with Wahabi and moderate Sunni leaders, as well as post’s on-going Faith Communities Outreach, shows that there is still common ground between these two groups and between Christians and Muslims as long as post does not try to engage these groups in religious dialogue or attempting to mediate on faith issues.

Wikileaks: ‘Growing Wahabi influence in Ethiopia’

Two leaked Cables of US Embassy Addis Ababa briefly discuss the state of Wahabi in Ethiopia.

A Cable dated Nov 2008 on the ‘growing Wahabi influence in Ethiopia’ claims:

* In Oromiya Region of Ethiopia, Wahabi influence is clearly growing rapidly

* Wahabis have been trying for years to close [Sheikh Hussein] Shrine, saying it was ‘un-Islamic’ and ‘impure’.

* …more than thirty smaller, local shrines (mainly to Sufi saints) in the area had also been destroyed by Wahabis who often replaced the shrines with Saudi-style mosques; e.g., mosques that reflect Wahabi architectural and interior styling. This mainly happened about five years ago.

* [Embassy officers] faced questions from young Wahabi student activists in Bahir Dar and Gondar (well away from Bale) about why the [US Government] supported the work at the Shek Hussen Shrine.

* the Public Affairs Section [of the Embassy] has been planning to translate ‘The Place of Tolerance in Islam’ into Amharic and Oromifa for local consumption. However, after approaching several prominent academics and translators who are known to post, the job was turned down by every one.
However, the Cable also notes that:

both the Wahabis and the moderate Islamic Council were very eager to work with the Embassy on a project to survey and document Islamic manuscripts. They are both painfully aware of how much Muslim culture is being siphoned out of the country by wealthy collectors (both in the Middle East and Europe), and want to preserve this rich heritage here in Ethiopia.

Another Cable, titled ‘A Sufi and a Wahabi Sit Down to Lunch…‘, presents discussions during luncheons separately held for the two groups at the Embassy. Interestingly, the Cable states that:

The Wahabi group …. commented favorably about the Ethiopian Government, noting that it and its ethnic federalist structure provided far better opportunities for Muslims than any previous regime.

[Note that: Wahabi literatures claim that Al-Qaida leader bin Laden was not from the Wahabi sect.]

Read the full text of the two Cables below.

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Reference ID – 08ADDISABABA3230
Created – 2008-11-26 09:20
Released – 2011-08-26 00:00
Classification – UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Origin – Embassy Addis Ababa
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SUBJECT: GROWING WAHABI INFLUENCE IN ETHIOPIA TESTS THE LIMITS OF TOLERANCE
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SUMMARY
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¶1. (SBU) Two recent Public Diplomacy programs have demonstrated the growing reach and influence of Wahabi elements in Ethiopian Muslim society. Post’s efforts to translate ‘The Place of Tolerance in Islam’ into local languages have come to naught because no Muslim translator in Ethiopia is willing to do it fearing Wahabi pressure.

Likewise, in the Oromiya Region of Ethiopia, Wahabi influence is clearly growing rapidly and the Wahabi leadership in the country is heavily, if not exclusively, Oromo. At the same time, an Ambassador-hosted lunch with Wahabi and moderate Sunni leaders, as well as post’s on-going Faith Communities Outreach, shows that there is still common ground between these two groups and between Christians and Muslims as long as post does not try to engage these groups in religious dialogue or attempting to mediate on faith issues. END

SUMMARY.

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SHEK HUSSEN SHRINE AND WAHABI ATTACKS ON ETHIOPIAN MUSLIM CULTURE
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¶2. (U) In FY-2007, the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) made a grant in the amount of $25,600 to the Oromiya Bureau of Culture for preservation works around the Shek Hussen (NOTE: This is the official Ethiopian spelling of ‘Sheikh Hussein’) Shrine in the Bale Region of Oromiya Region. PAO, along with a Muslim PAS FSN, and a representative of the Oromiya Bureau of Culture, visited the Shrine on a four-day visit to the area to evaluate the work, document the completed works with photographs, and meet with local representatives at the Shrine. The project was completed in a highly exemplary fashion, the work was very well-done, and the officials at the Shrine were very pleased with our support. PAO sat on the ground with a group of over fifty local persons (almost all male) talking about the Shrine, its history, and the USG’s support. Everyone clearly knew that we were behind the project, they were very pleased that we saw fit to help them, and more than a hundred people from the area had benefited economically from wages for manual labor during the life of the project.

¶3. (SBU) Officials noted, however, that Wahabis have been trying for years to close that Shrine, saying it was ‘un-Islamic’ and ‘impure’. The Bureau of Culture representative noted that more than thirty smaller, local shrines (mainly to Sufi saints) in the area had also been destroyed by Wahabis who often replaced the shrines with Saudi-style mosques; e.g., mosques that reflect Wahabi architectural and interior styling. This mainly happened about five years ago. He also noted, however, that the Wahabis are no longer trying to shut down Shek Hussen Shrine, but instead are trying to &purify the rituals to remove all the Ethiopian cultural traditions from the semi-annual feasts and celebrations held at the Shrine. While this does represent a softening of Wahabi views in some sense, he also made it clear that if they have it their way, only Saudi-Wahabi rituals would be followed in Ethiopia.
¶4. (U) PAO has also faced questions from young Wahabi student activists in Bahir Dar and Gondar (well away from Bale) about why the USG supported the work at the Shek Hussen Shrine. (COMMENT: This has clearly been a propaganda point of Wahabi activists in Ethiopia for some time as this project has been received very favorably by the moderate Muslim community as it shows support for traditional Ethiopian culture while the Wahabis were denigrating Ethiopian culture and traditions. END COMMENT)

¶5. (U) In the town of Robe, where the travelers stayed overnight, the first restaurant visited had a separate section for women and families curtained off in the Wahabi style. Such sections are not commonly found in Ethiopia where the vast majority of Muslim women normally wear only a veil around the head, but not covering the face, and in any color except black. In the area around Robe and the eighty miles or so to the Shek Hussen Shrine, PAO noted many women

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wearing the black, Wahabi-style abaya with veil covering the face with only the eyes showing. Approximately one in twenty women both in the country and in the towns were so attired, even out in areas where there was no one else in sight, women so veiled were often seen walking alone. One village near Robe is even known locally as &little Saudi Arabia because so many people there have moved to Saudi Arabia through work and marriage.

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NO TOLERANCE FOR &TOLERANCE
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¶6. (U) In another example of growing Wahabi influence in Ethiopia, the Public Affairs Section has been planning to translate ‘The Place of Tolerance in Islam ‘into Amharic and Oromifa for local consumption. However, after approaching several prominent academics and translators who are known to post, the job was turned down by every one. One scholar wrote a letter to the PAO in which he noted how good the book is, how valid its arguments are, and how much it’s needed in Ethiopia, but he noted that ‘new schools of Muslim thought’ in Ethiopia & do not agree with these interpretations and ‘we no longer think of ourselves as moderates and Wahabis, but only Muslims.’ Another one reported in a phone conversation that he would not even translate the book anonymously, because ‘they will find out who did it’ and the Wahabis will exert a lot of pressure (unspecified) on him and his family. Post is still pursuing a means of translating this book, but it now appears it may have to be done outside the country.

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MUSLIM LUNCHES AT THE RESIDENCE CONTINUE . . .
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¶7. (U) On 10 November, Ambassador Yamamoto hosted one of an ongoing series of luncheons for Islamic clerics and Muslim leaders, attended by thirteen Muslim leaders, including four Wahabis. The four Wahabis are Oromo. Discussion focused on the Mission’s approach to &Faith Communities Outreach,8 highlighting several outreach efforts that impacted on the Muslim community:

a) a Public Affairs grant to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies to purchase Ethiopian Orthodox icons and Islamic manuscripts;
b) the recent reconstruction of schools in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa by the U.S. Combined joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA);
c) the AFCP project to preserve the Shek Hussen Shrine;

d) the September 2008 Iftar and Meskel (an Ethiopian Christian holiday) meals that the Ambassador hosted in Bahir Dar for the Muslim and Christian communities respectively;

e) possible support in the coming months by PAS to do a grant to the Islamic Affairs Council to do a nationwide survey of Islamic manuscripts. On this last point, both the Wahabis and the moderate Islamic Council were very eager to work with the Embassy on a project to survey and document Islamic manuscripts. They are both painfully aware of how much Muslim culture is being siphoned out of the country by wealthy collectors (both in the Middle East and Europe), and want to preserve this rich heritage here in Ethiopia. PAO will explore options on this and advise Washington elements as planning proceeds.

¶8. (U) The Grand Mufti of Ethiopia invited the Embassy to visit the country’s oldest mosque with him, which PAO readily agreed to do. Also, Sheikh Elias Redman, the acting head of the Islamic Affairs Council, suggested that the Embassy drill a well in the Wollo Region near the Albuco Mosque, as both Muslims and Christians would benefit from this project. It was clear from the lunch conversation that there are many areas in which the USG can build close and fruitful links with these two main segments of the Muslim community in Ethiopia, as long as we focus on cultural initiatives and
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practical infrastructure projects (e.g., wells and schools).

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IFTAR EVENTS HIGHLIGHT U.S. ENGAGEMENT
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¶9. (U) We hosted a series of meals for the poorest of people in the Islamic community during IFTAR in the last two years. These events provided more positive impact for our Muslim outreach program, attracting Wahabis and Sunnis alike and gaining their curiosity, at first, but ultimately appreciation and support. A common refrain is that the U.S. is ‘learning’ to understand other religious beliefs, overturning al-Jazeera stereotypes of U.S. intolerance. Certainly our example made a positive impression with the Islamic clerics and was noted in our luncheons for the Wahabi and Sunni clerics.

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CONCLUSION
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¶10. (SBU) While Wahabi influence continues to grow in Ethiopia, appealing to the strong sense of cultural pride for which Ethiopians of all faiths are known may be one way to counter the influence of these foreign-financed and influenced activists. Many Ethiopians are well aware of the lack of assistance that Arab and Muslim countries provide to Ethiopia and when they see these groups practicing ‘cultural imperialism’ against their very old and well-respected Muslim traditions, it definitely grates on them. The Oromiya Bureau of Culture representative offered the services of his office to translate and distribute ‘The Place of Tolerance in Islam’ and also to look at doing ‘The Great Theft,’ both of which were authored by Khalid Abou el-Fadl. PAS will consider that option, as well as others, but it is vital that more information by Muslim authors countering Wahabi influence be made available to Ethiopian Muslims in both Amharic and Oromifa. Post will also continue on its present strategy of ‘Faith Communities Outreach’ (as opposed to ‘Muslim Outreach’) as a means of promoting the American ideals of tolerance, diversity, and mutual respect and understanding between faiths. This approach of working with all faith communities has been very well-received here by both the Muslim and Christian communities and it undercuts the Islamist argument that the U.S. is only doing ‘Muslim Outreach’ because of 9/11 and because ‘they think Muslims are terrorists’. (NOTE: This is another line of argument pursued by Wahabi activists in public meetings the PAO has held). Post intends to continue these periodic contacts with Wahabi leaders, but will concentrate most of its Faith Communities Outreach efforts through the Islamic Affairs Council as the voice of moderate Islam in Ethiopia.

YAMAMOTO

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Reference ID – 07ADDISABABA2781
Created – 2007-09-10 14:37
Released – 2011-08-26 00:00
Classification – UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Origin – Embassy Addis Ababa
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TAGS: KISL KPAO SCUL ET

SUBJECT: A Sufi and a Wahabi Sit Down to Lunch…

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Summary
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¶1. (U) Amb. Yamamoto hosted two groups of Ethiopian Muslim leaders to pre-Ramadan lunches. The first group included the Mufti and moderate Sufi leaders allied with the Addis Ababa Islamic Council (AAIC), while the second group was composed of Wahabi Muslim leaders. While the lunches aimed to open a dialogue between Post and Muslim leaders, we hosted separate lunches to avoid reported conflict between the two factions. To Post’s surprise, the Wahabis quickly overcame their suspicion of US motives and engaged in a lively, frank, and participatory dialogue while the moderate Sufis remained cordial-but-reserved deferring principally to the Mufti to uphold dialogue. End Summary.

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Sufis Remain Reserved
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¶2. (U) Ambassador Yamamoto hosted the Mufti of Ethiopia and several local Imams for lunch on Sept. 4. Post selected the participants based on their Sufi orientation and links to the AAIC. Despite the dozen Sufi participants, lunch conversation maintained the staunch formality of a first time visiting foreign delegation with the bulk of the dialogue occurring between the Mufti and one aide on one side and the Ambassador and Pol/Econ Counselor on the other. Predictably, the guests spoke fondly of the Ethiopian Government, highlighted Ethiopia’s long history of inter-religious tolerance, and explained away the recent increase in religious conflict as being conflicts between individuals that spread to their peer groups in a religiously diverse setting. The group remained reserved, speaking predominantly in response to Post’s questions with the exception of one English-speaking MP who only commented to request that Post to provide $165,000 to help offset recurring administrative costs to sustain mosque operations. The Mufti responded positively to Ambassador Yamamoto’s plan to fund an Iftar for the poor at two AAIC-affiliated Mosques on Sept. 17 and 19.

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Suspicious Wahabis Engage
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¶3. (U) As late as just days before the Sept. 5 lunch for the Wahabi leaders, those invited remained suspicious of Post’s intentions and had not yet decided whether to attend. After Post’s Political Specialist convinced the group that Post’s motive was to listen and share experiences, the dozen invitees did attend. Ambassador Yamamoto opened discussion by acknowledging that Americans often listen too little and emphasized that his goal was for a frank discussion. While the senior guest, Dr. Jeilan Khedir, commended the Ambassador — more comfortable in Arabic than Amharic — for the first ever invitation extended to his group by the U.S. Embassy, other guests quickly seized the invitation for a frank discussion to note that lack of engagement by the USG allowed the perception of the U.S. in a war against Islam to take root. The guests quickly questioned why they had not been invited along with the Sufi group the day before. Pol/Econ Counselor reversed the question to inquire about the reported rift between the two sects. Surprisingly, the guests explained that the two groups were both Muslim and peace-loving with no real divisions between them – only noting as an afterthought that they had different interpretations of the Koran. The Wahabi group too commented favorably about the Ethiopian Government, noting that it and its ethnic federalist structure provided far better opportunities for Muslims than any previous regime. The group also echoed the Sufi group’s interpretation of recent religious conflict as stemming from individuals, and were emphatic that external influences played no role. While the group encouraged Post to distribute Korans to poor Muslim communities in Ethiopia as a means to demonstrate our good will, they did accept Post’s explanation of the first amendment prohibition on promoting individual religions and were willing to accept USG development and humanitarian assistance activities as evidence of our intentions in Ethiopia. The guests who arrived suspicious left gracious and encouraging further frank dialogue.
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Comment
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¶4. (SBU) While the Muslim outreach lunches were not groundbreaking, they certainly challenged the assumptions of Ethiopia’s Muslim leaders and Post alike. Although Post’s already enjoys relatively good relations with the AAIC, hosting the Mufti and Post’s planned Iftars for the poor during Ramadan will certainly strengthen that relationship. The open discussion with the Wahabi leaders, and more
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fundamentally the lunch invitation itself, established a line of communication previously absent and even taboo. A single lunch conversation certainly does not change the fundamental, and mutual, suspicions and reservations between our communities, but it does provide Post with a link into a growing and increasingly influential community in Ethiopia and a public diplomacy target audience of tremendous potential import to our national interests.

¶5. (SBU) Post’s plan to host Iftar dinners for the poor at two local mosques, rather than the standard Iftar dinner for Muslim elites, is receiving significant praise in Addis Ababa.

Yamamoto
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[Degnet]

Shut up you paranoid N***er, Muslim Ethiopians will never accept ""wahabism"", and you fear shouldn't be "wahabism", it should be to pull your Kafir kind out of proverty.

First of all Muslim EtHiOpIaNS are not Sunnis or whatever, they are Muslims, you divisive filthy Kafir Bantu. Your security threat are not Muslims becoming ""wahabis"" it's fact that despite Ethiopia's resources and arable land, the k*ristian/Pente retarded leaders somehow have to bagg foreigners for food and everything, not only is it embarrassing, the country will forever be dependent like a typical N***, at the height of Ethiopia's civilization most of SSA were naked savages, but now we are emulating those same creatures, we become the same tier as them even lower.

This article is ok for a topic like that though, unlike most.

Who are you to insult a person like this?