ISLAM EXPERTS PROMOTE MODERATION, CONDEMN TERROR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 004025

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KISL TC
SUBJECT: ISLAM EXPERTS PROMOTE MODERATION, CONDEMN TERROR



1. Summary: The UAE hosted an international conference on Islam
October 25-30 designed to encourage moderation in preaching and
condemn extremism and terrorism. Through this conference, the
UAEG hoped to clear "wrong" notions about Islam and show that
Islam promotes peace and tolerance. The conference included
sessions by prominent Muslim religious figures, including Sheikh
Tantawi (Imam of Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo) and Sheikh Hamza
Yousef (founder of Al-Zaytuna Institute in Hayward, California),
Dr. Issam Al Bashir (Sudan),Sheikh Al Habib Ali Al Jafri
(Yemen),Dr. Fahmi Howaidi (Egypt),and Sheikh Nouh Al Qudah,
Advisor to the UAE Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and
Awqaf. The conference ended with a call for moderate Islamic
preaching, increased training of Imams, and reforms of the
Islamic studies curriculum. End Summary.

ISLAMIC PREACHING AND TEACHING
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2. Conference speakers discussed how preachers, scholars,
professors, and teachers should convey Islamic teachings to the
faithful in the mosques and to students in the schools. Speakers
urged those with preaching and teaching responsibilities to use a
unified, balanced, and moderate Islamic message to encourage
dialogue among civilizations. They also encouraged scholars and
preachers to spread religious awareness and a "correct" Islamic
foundation among Muslim youth, who might misinterpret the
teachings of Islam. One Imam said that Islamic teachings and
sermons should be wise and connected to the roots of Islam, but
they should also be relevant to the current culture and language.
Another acknowledged that the region needs to reform its
educational and Islamic studies curricula, but stressed that this
should not be imposed from outside.

Dangers of extremism
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3. Scholars at the conference declared that extremism is "un-
Islamic" and should be condemned. They stated that the acts of
some persons, who are either enemies of, or are ignorant of,
Islam, do not represent the Islamic nation or the teachings of
Islam, and stressed that the issue of associating Islam with
terrorism should be addressed by the Islamic world through
government institutions, the educational system, and all sectors
of society.


4. In a separate meeting with the conference speakers, Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of
Defense, urged them to spread the "true nature" of Islam, and to
correct distortions about the religion. One conference scholar
said that the West cannot be blamed for the distorted image of
Islam when real responsibility for the distortion lies with
certain groups that have an extreme attitude toward Islam.


5. UAE PRESIDENT SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYED, TOLD THE LOCAL PRESS
THAT HIS COUNTRY REJECTS VIOLENCE AND EXTREME VIEWS THAT SMEAR
THE IMAGE OF ISLAM. SHEIKHA FATIMA BINT MUBARAK, WIDOW OF LATE
PRESIDENT ZAYED, ISSUED A STATEMENT DURING THE CONFERENCE SAYING
SHE HOPED THE CONFERENCE WOULD YIELD CONSTRUCTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT WOULD HELP "SAVE THE MUSLIM NATION FROM THE CURRENT CRISIS."

Conference recommendations
--------------


6. The conference ended with the following recommendations:
-- need for moderation in preaching;
-- need to adapt to changes in the modern world;
-- refrain from using religion for political purposes;
-- work to correct distortions of Islam as being in any way
related to extremism and terrorism.


7. The conference called on the ministries of justice in Muslim
countries to develop Friday sermons compatible with contemporary
realities, and to train their imams on how best to spread the
correct message of Islam and how to address the media. The
conference also called on all the ministries of education to
review their national curricula, conduct field studies on the
realities of teaching Islamic studies in the modern world, and
evaluate Islamic Studies teachers to ensure they are correctly
portraying the image of Islam. The UAE Ministry of Justice,
Islamic Affairs and Awqaf announced that a similar conference
will be held annually.


8. Several senior members of the UAE ruling family attended the
sessions, including Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin
Zayed, de facto Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, and
Information and Culture Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed. U.S.
Embassy staff attended many of the proceedings.

Comment:
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9. The conference provided an important platform for the UAE
Government to speak publicly about its opposition to terrorism
and extremism. Hosting such a timely conference carries a
message that the UAE encourages all Arab and Muslim nations to
maintain a dialogue with the West. It is an acknowledgment on
the part of the UAE and other Muslim countries that
misconceptions and misinterpretations of Islam do exist and that
it is the Muslim world's responsibility to correct these
distortions that extremists exploit.
SISON