JORDANIAN ISLAMISTS UNDER PRESSURE AS GOJ PUSHES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001785 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL PHUM KWMN JO SUBJECT: JORDANIAN ISLAMISTS UNDER PRESSURE AS GOJ PUSHES AMMAN MESSAGE REF: A. 04 AMMAN 9717 ¶B. AMMAN 1719 ¶C. 04 AMMAN 8868 ¶D. 04 AMMAN 7619 Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) King Abdullah continues to emphasize Jordan's "Amman Message" endorsing a moderate Islam. The GOJ hosted a meeting of international Islamic clerics to plan the agenda for a summer conference based on the Amman Message, which will seek to promote Islamic unity and outline Islam's stand on such issues as the role of women and terrorism. Meanwhile, Jordan's Islamists are under growing government pressure. The GOJ has confiscated charity boxes from mosques, announced it is studying whether Islamists should be brought up on charges for giving "political" speeches from the pulpit, and has allegedly moved to bar donations to non-governmental Qur'anic schools. Critics say the GOJ's hard-line approach may backfire and risks driving religious teaching underground. End Summary. -------------- PUTTING THE AMMAN MESSAGE CENTER STAGE -------------- ¶2. (U) King Abdullah continues to advocate the Amman Message, unveiled in November 2004, which proclaims that the "true nature" of Islam is one of moderation and tolerance (ref A). During a February 24 meeting with British PM Blair in London, Abdullah emphasized Jordan's role in cross-cultural and interfaith dialogue, according to press reports. The King noted that the Amman Message calls for the return of the "moderate voice of Islam" and encourages the "silent majority" to promote Islam as a faith of tolerance and moderation capable of building bridges of understanding between all nations of the world. ¶3. (U) In this vein, Prince Ali Bin Nayef, acting as regent during the King's European tour, on February 23 opened a meeting of international Islamic clerics in Amman to plan the agenda for an Islamic conference in July. Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Ahmad Hilayel told participants that the upcoming conference would seek to build upon the themes outlined in the Amman Message and to promote Islamic unity. He hoped the conference would tackle many issues, including determining Islam's stand on the role of women and relations with non-Muslims inside and outside Muslim societies. He added that the challenges facing Muslims, including extremism and terrorism, would be major topics of discussion. Chief Qadi Izzeddine Khatib Tamimi, who read out the message during Eid prayers in Amman back in November, told the clerics, "the Amman Message was partly an expression of (Jordan's) stand and a response to a commitment and a responsibility." He noted that the message was initiated in Amman "out of Jordan's spiritual and historical responsibility shouldered by the Hashemite leadership." -------------- KEEPING THE ISLAMISTS IN LINE -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The government is working hard to ensure its Islamists stay in line. The GOJ has confiscated more than 1,000 collection boxes for charities reportedly run by the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) throughout Jordan for the stated reason of verifying that the charities are legitimate. The Ministry of Social Development, which is responsible for registering charitable organizations, denied the move is part of a campaign against the MB; it claims it is intended to "regulate" the process of collecting funds for charities. In addition, contacts tell us the government is trying to enforce a ban on donations to private Qur'anic schools affiliated with the MB's charities around the country. ¶5. (U) Separately, the governor of Amman referred Islamic Action Front (IAF) MP Mohammad Abu Fares and IAF members Ahmad Kafawin and Salem Falahat to the attorney general for staging a "rally" after Friday prayers on February 18 without prior approval as required by the Public Assembly Law. (NOTE: The professional associations are currently embroiled in a similar controversy with the government over its "political activity" (ref B). END NOTE.) Abu Fares told the press that in additional to speaking on the Prophet Mohammad's teachings, he had criticized Jordan's normalization with Israel as undermining national economic interests. The IAF lashed out against the move to prosecute the three men, saying the government was bent on confiscating public freedoms, gagging people's mouths and targeting Islamists. A Ministry of Interior spokesman countered by stating the government was merely enforcing the law. ¶6. (U) In an interview with Arabic weekly al-Sabeel, IAF Secretary General Hamza Mansour slammed the government's SIPDIS actions, accusing the GOJ of "fighting against the people," and of seeking to subjugate Jordanians to the "principles of Wadi Araba," a reference to Jordan's peace treaty with Israel. He said the government has no real intention to reform, that it launches projects without any substance for the purpose of distracting the public, and turns a "blind eye" to foreign institutes that "buy" NGOs. ¶7. (C) Mansour is embroiled in a controversy of his own. A local paper carried a photo of Mansour meeting orthodox Jewish rabbis at a recent conference in Beirut on the Palestinian right of return. Although these rabbis are affiliated with a group that rejects Israeli statehood on theological grounds, the photo caused a stir nevertheless. Mansour denied meeting the rabbis, despite the picture, but said they represented a "good cause." MP Raed Qaqish cried foul, noting that he had been targeted by Mansour's ilk last year for debating an Israeli on al-Hurra regarding the regional situation (ref C). -------------- -------------- AWQAF MINISTER TO FACE QUESTIONS ON MISUSE OF FUNDS -------------- -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The Minister of Awqaf, while less confrontational than embattled Interior Minister Habashneh, has his own issues with Parliament. MPs Fawaz Zoubi (East Banker-Ramtha) and Ghazi al-Zaben (East Banker-Central Badia) have sent a list of questions to Hilayel concerning allegations that the Awqaf ministry used zakat funds -- charity contributions for the poor required of all Muslims -- improperly. Specifically, the MPs want Hilayel to answer charges that the Ministry used zakat charity funds collected by the Ministry to cover hajj expenses of influential Jordanians, including members of the royal court and the military. The constitution requires the minister to respond to the questions within two weeks, after which the MPs have the right to call Hilayel before Parliament for questioning. -------------- GOJ'S TACTICS COULD BACKFIRE -------------- ¶9. (C) Former Awqaf Minister (and MB supporter at the time) Raef Nijim, who currently serves as deputy for a royal committee charged with restoration projects for Islamic holy places in Jerusalem, criticized the GOJ's heavy-handed tactics. He told poloff on March 1 that the private Qur'anic schools, which are affiliated with Islamic charities, will cease to operate without private contributions. The government thus risks creating an even larger problem, according to Nijim. People will continue to study the Qur'an, but may not turn to government schools since the GOJ's strategy of cracking down on preachers and regulating the sermons (ref D) gives the impression that the security services are trying to "control the message." In Nijim's view, it would be much better for the government to allow the schools to operate so that their teachings can be monitored. Otherwise, people will be driven underground for religious guidance where it is much more difficult to keep track of what they are learning. ¶10. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at http://www.state.sgov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site through the Department of State's SIPRNET home page. HALE