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Viewing cable 08NOUAKCHOTT716, SPEAKER VISIT FURTHERS QUIET DIPLOMACY

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08NOUAKCHOTT716 2008-12-04 12:16 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Nouakchott
VZCZCXRO8419
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNK #0716/01 3391216
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041216Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7907
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0683
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000716 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KISL KMDR PREL MR PGOV PHUM SOCI KCOR KPAO NG
SUBJECT: SPEAKER VISIT FURTHERS QUIET DIPLOMACY 
 
NOUAKCHOTT 00000716  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
1. IIP Speaker Mohammed Bashar Arafat visited Nouakchott from 
November 23 until November 26 2008. During this time, he gave 
presentations on Islam In America to two universities in Nouakchott, 
the University of Nouakchott (11/24) and the Islamic Institute, 
ISERI (11/25) reaching over 600 students in total and visited a 
local Mahadra where he lectured 30 students (11/26). He led evening 
prayers at Imam Enahwhi's Noor Mosque (11/24) and afternoon prayers 
for local staff at the US Embassy on (11/26).  Imam Arafat met and 
shared meals in intimate settings with the most important local 
religious leaders from the range of local ethnic and religious 
affiliations. 
 
2. The English-language Lecture at the University of Nouakchott 
English Department was to a standing room of almost 300 students who 
listened attentively, took notes, and asked pertinent questions for 
eventual class papers. The University houses one of Mauritania's 
only two American Corners, which is overused and exceedingly 
popular.  The 1,600 student Faculty of English produces all of the 
country's future Fulbright scholars and many eventual International 
Visitors.  They were all given copies of the French and English 
"Islam in America" booklets and many requested Imam Arafat's 
autograph upon departure from the Auditorium.  The audience included 
3rd and 4th year English students, PhD students, professors, and 
journalists.  The embassy's relationship with the University is very 
important and English language speakers addressing topics of mutual 
interest reinforces this relationship.  The Dean of the English 
Department, former IV Mamadou Diawara gave Imam Arafat's 
introduction.  Students asked questions about whether our visitor 
felt prejudiced against as a Moslem in America, whether the US had 
any problems with offensive cartoons like the Danish and whether 
Islam was growing in America.  Imam Arafat took this opportunity to 
reinforce the respect for diversity in American society however 
mentioning that he too faced problems with border security at 
airports. A dinner with Imam Hamden, President of the Association of 
Ulemas, led to in-depth discussion of the philosophical meaning of 
many theological practices in Islam and the concept of tolerance in 
the Koran. They also discussed projects that would allow young Imams 
to learn English in the US, sending 5-7 from Mauritania to the US 
for such a linguistic, but also cultural, exchange. 
 
3. The lecture at the Islamic Institute ISERI, widely regarded as a 
hotbed of Islamic fundamentalism, included a full audience of over 
250 students, professors and leaders.  The Islamic Institute houses 
the second of the two Embassy sponsored American corners in 
Mauritania.  The presentation was well received, but a staged 
intervention by the extremist political party and a professor hurled 
anti-American remarks unrelated to Islam in America and purely 
political in nature. It should be noted that on a prior trip to 
ISERI the SSI speaker was boycotted.  Given the politically hostile 
environment this reception was expected, and the grace and humility 
with which Imam Arafat reacted to such interventions and turned them 
into opportunities for discussion was remarkable.  As a leading 
intellectual and most influential and important journalist in 
Mauritania, the meeting with Abou Maali and Imam Arafat was an 
important introduction where issues handicapping the Arab world were 
discussed such as old dictators, new intolerance and occupation, all 
which he sees as mutually reinforcing one another.  During the 
dinner at the Charge's a diverse array of key religious (Pulaar and 
Soninke Imams) and intellectual leaders (journalists) sat at one 
table discussing Islam in America and America's current policy 
towards Mauritania. 
 
4. The lecture at the Mahadra addressed over 30 upper level Islamic 
students from Mauritania, Algeria and Mali on Islam in America and 
Imam Arafat's visits to the region to promote this.  He reinforced 
his opinion that Muslims need to take advantage of technology to 
learn English and become more capable of interacting on a global 
scale. Some students criticized "the new Muslim way of learning 
Islam" when it leads to terrorism. They explained that their 
Mahadra's Islamic theology focuses on tolerance and open dialogue 
with others. This meeting was followed by a personal meeting with 
Pulaar Imam Ball Mohamed Bechir, an Afro-Mauritanian Imam who had 
met Arafat on a previous trip. Bechir promised to visit Baltimore 
and give lectures at Arafat's mosque when he comes for his next 
annual Ramadan visit to the US in August. 
 
5. A lunchtime roundtable discussion at the US Embassy cafeteria was 
a resounding success with almost 50 local staff and Americans 
sitting in on the power-point presentation and lively Q and A. 
Afterwards, local staff invited Imam Arafat to lead their afternoon 
prayer.  It was an opportunity for everyone, Mauritanians and 
Americans alike, to learn about Moslems in America and exactly what 
a speaker presents to the local public when he travels.  Discussion 
went well over the hour and a half time limit and many stayed on to 
speak with Imam Arafat individually, over lunch. 
 
6. Post considers this successful program to have come at a very 
opportune moment for Mauritania-American relations.  Given the tense 
political environment, in which the US is being blamed for having 
taking the staunchest stance against the August 6th military coup, 
proffering the quickest sanctions and not budging, it was important 
 
NOUAKCHOTT 00000716  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
to rekindle a religious and cultural dialogue devoid of overt 
political implications.   It furthers post's priority MSP of 
hastening a reinstitution of democracy and promotes mutual 
understanding (Muslem Outreach) and national unity (Mauritanian, 
between White Moors, Black Moors and Afro-Mauritanians). 
 
7. Given to target audiences, through personal narrative and 
historical anecdote, Imam Arafat introduced a heretofore unknown 
Moslem American population and explained how their civil liberties 
are protected and advanced. Imam Arafat offered a landscape running 
counter to the international media focus on US policy to the Moslem 
world and repression of Moslem's civil liberties in the US. Instead 
he explained the freedom and flourishing of their population and 
their continuations to the worldwide Moslem population.  He 
highlighted the true nature of Islam that is often manipulated by 
extremists the world over and encouraged all to embrace this form of 
Islam, germane to Mauritania's Malachite Sufism.  His power point 
presentation, with illustrative photographs of historical 
Moslem-American figures and exchange programs in renowned capitals 
of significance for Moslems, sparked a dialogue on a topic of mutual 
knowledge, the history of Islam, but through the lens of a Moslem 
American.  Through this medium Imam Arafat was able to build bridges 
of dialogue with interlocutors who have been less willing to engage 
due to the current political situation.  In small meetings with 
influential Imams, over meals and with their families, he engaged in 
deep, philosophical and textual Koranic debates, advancing these 
relationships.  Many meetings ended with the promise of further 
engagement and collaboration on projects of mutual interest 
including interfaith exchanges and the opening of a new Islamic 
University. 
 
8.  Through numerous small encounters, Imam Arafat cemented 
friendships with many key Mauritanian Imams sharing his Sufi Islamic 
approach or simply his commitment to interfaith dialogue and the 
advancement of a tolerant form of Islam.  An example of the fruit of 
such an encounter, was the official invitation Imam Hafed Enahwi 
gave to Imam Arafat for him to return to Mauritania in March 2009 to 
attend the large and important annual Sufi leaders conference, this 
year's topic: "Moderate Islam and Globalization."  This annual 
symposium is important and heavily attended, attracting Sufi Moslems 
from around the world, the total number of attendees often exceeding 
1,000.  His attendance would be important to advance not only 
Mission interest, but also those of his NGO and Mauritanian Islam. 
 
 
9. Imam Arafat's presentations highlighting the commonalities 
between American Moslems and their international counterparts 
revealed a side of America many had never thought existed and his 
message of renewed dialogue, and the naturally pacifistic nature of 
Islam resounded.  Following the hijacking of the debate as the 
Islamic institute, Imam Arafat asked students to raise their hands 
to show support if they wanted him to continue. The implication 
being that his message of tolerance and interfaith dialogue had 
resonated and all but three students raised their hands.  The impact 
of such rhetorical question is clear: despite a clear manipulation 
of the gathering by the administration to its own political end, to 
spark an Anti-American political protest, the students had made up 
their own minds and were interested in hearing about the message of 
tolerance and interfaith dialogue that Imam Arafat furthered.  This 
type of exemplary reaction embodied grace and wisdom and served as a 
model for many students. It was clear that many Mauritanians were 
encouraged in hearing that Muslims in America are becoming very 
active and many expressed optimism in the wake of Obama's election. 
 
 
10.  Given the current Mauritanian political context post was 
careful to craft a program that would avoid situations that would 
place our guest in a position of having to defend or address US 
policy, which is currently highly contested, controversial and 
openly opposed.  Therefore, large gatherings and press conferences 
were avoided.  Already, we heard rumblings that through the Imam's 
visit the US was trying to "keep the door open" while politically 
closing the door, through sanctions, or as one student put it, using 
the Imam's visit as a way for the US "clean their dirty face".  We 
focused instead on quiet diplomacy, allowing dialogue to unfold in 
intimate settings. This proved equally fruitful with key influencers 
spending extended time with Imam Arafat, developing trust and 
looking to the future of increased cooperation. 
 
HANKINS