Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI3494
2004-10-05 09:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR CALLS ON JUSTICE/ISLAMIC AFFAIRS

Tags:  PREL PINR TC 
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Diana T Fritz 02/05/2007 05:21:52 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 03494

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: PAO
 INFO: AMB DCM

DISSEMINATION: PAO
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB:MJSISON
DRAFTED: PAO:TRWHATLEY
CLEARED: DCM:RALBRIGHT

VZCZCADI641
RR RUEHC RUEHZM
DE RUEHAD #3494 2790940
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 050940Z OCT 04
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6198
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003494 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2014
TAGS: PREL PINR TC
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON JUSTICE/ISLAMIC AFFAIRS
MINISTER

REF: ABU DHABI 03252

Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b)
and 1.4 (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003494

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2014
TAGS: PREL PINR TC
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON JUSTICE/ISLAMIC AFFAIRS
MINISTER

REF: ABU DHABI 03252

Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b)
and 1.4 (d).


1. (C) Summary: UAE Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs
Mohammed Bin Nakhira Al-Dhareri emphasized to Ambassador
September 29 that the Ministry pursues transparency in government.
He explained the role of the Ministry in overseeing mosques and
religious curriculum in schools, emphasizing the positive impact
on national security. He expressed his desire to work closely
with the USG on all issues in his portfolio. End Summary.


2. (U) On September 29, Ambassador paid her initial call on UAE
Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs, Mohammed Bin Nakhira
Al-Dhaheri. U/S for International Cooperation and Planning Abdul
Rahim Al Awadi and APAO also participated. Al Dhaheri provided
an overview of UAEG initiatives to promote moderate Islam both in
mosques and in primary education. He said the UAEG was aware that
it had a serious problem with school curricula and was working
towards correcting it. Al-Dhaheri maintained that the public at
large, including the majority of ex-pat Muslim workers, agreed
with the government's approach to tackling radical Islam. He said
that his ministry recognized the public concerns regarding the
government's oversight role in both Sunni and Shi'a mosques and
education. As they have seen the results reflected in the UAE's
positive security environment, the public has by and large
accepted the focus on moderate Islam, he said.


3. (C) Al Dhaheri emphasized that the Ministry of Islamic
Affairs (Awqaf) had initiated a reform process some years ago,
although many of the more sensitive issues will take time to be
resolved. Other countries in the region looked to the UAE as a
model on which to base their own reform, he noted. The Minister
explained that one of the main goals of the Ministry was to promote
a better, more tolerant, understanding of Islam. "We practice the
tradition of our fathers and grandfathers, the Islam of peace and
love. We reject what is happening now in the name of Islam." He
detailed how the Ministry exercises supervision over all mosques
in the country. All imams are appointed and licensed by the
government; Friday sermons are drafted by a Ministry committee and
distributed to the imams, who read from the same script.
Multi-lingual imams may translate into other languages for the
expatriate populations of Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc., but in all
other respects the Friday sermon is identical in every Sunni mosque.
(A similar process is followed for the Friday sermons drafted for
the minority Shita population).


4. (U) The Minister also expressed his desire to work closely with
the USG on all matters related to his second responsibility, the
Justice portfolio. He said the UAE was "anxious to benefit from the
wide expertise of the U.S. in many areas, including the training of
judges and development of forensic evidence labs." He added that
the UAE Judicial Institute had instituted programs to train new
judges and attorneys and help them understand new laws. The UAE
constantly seeks advice and suggestions from other countries,
including the U.S., on how to improve the system of governance, the
Minister noted.


5. (U) Ambassador then turned to the robust cooperation between the
Ministry of Justice and the USG. She pointed to the upcoming Export
Control Legal Technical Session (Oct 9-11),and inquired about the
status of two key pieces of draft legislation covering trafficking in
persons and the labor law. She complimented the UAEG on its
recent passage of anti-terrorism legislation. The Ambassador also
affirmed her commitment to pursuing the UAEG request of for a Mutual
Legal Assistance Treaty. On the subject of judicial reform, she
described the new regional MEPI office at the embassy and detailed key
initiatives, including the Alternate Dispute Resolution
program and the Commercial Law Development Program.

--------------
Bio Details: Al Dhaheri
--------------


6. (U) Mohammed Bin Nakhira Al Dhaheri, born December 1955,
Al Ain, Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE. Bachelor of Law, Emirates
University, 1982. Deputy Director of the Military Judiciary of the
UAE Armed Forces, 1982-1992. UAE Attorney General, 1992-1997.
1997 to present, Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf).

SISON