Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05AMMAN1785
2005-03-03 16:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDANIAN ISLAMISTS UNDER PRESSURE AS GOJ PUSHES

Tags:  PREL PGOV KISL PHUM KWMN JO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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
-------

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.

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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."

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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).

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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