JORDAN PREPARES FOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 004991

SIPDIS

S/S-O: PLEASE PASS TO SECRETARY'S PARTY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER KISL IZ JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN PREPARES FOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
"TRUE ISLAM"

REF: AMMAN 01785

Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Jordan will host an international conference from
July 4-6 to promote the Amman Message of moderate Islam.
Tentatively entitled "True Islam and its Role in Contemporary
Society," the organizing foundation has issued invitations to
Muslim scholars, government officials, and religious figures
from various branches of Islam. To date approximately 150
invitees have accepted, including members of the Iraqi Sunni
community; Ayatollah SISTANI and other Iraqi Shia leaders
have been invited, but have so far not responded. Organizers
say the purpose of the conference is to show a united Islamic
stance - including between Sunni and Shia - against terrorism
and in favor of tolerance, while also endorsing principles
aimed at stemming the proliferation of fatwas by Muslim
extremists. King Abdullah is hopeful this event could help
undermine religious pretexts for sectarian violence in Iraq,
but does not want publicity for this effort until he is
confident that agreement of key Iraqi Shia and Sunni clerics
is in hand. End Summary.

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CONFERENCE PREPARATIONS ON TRACK
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2. (C) Following a preparatory meeting of Islamic clerics in
Amman on February 23, Jordan's Al Al Bayt Foundation is
gearing up to host an international conference of Muslim
scholars, government officials (in their private capacity)
and religious figures from July 4-6, under King Abdullah's
patronage. The aim is to endorse the principles of the Amman
Message, which proclaims that the "true nature" of Islam is
one of moderation and tolerance (reftel). Acting PolCouns
met with the lead conference organizers at Al Al Bayt --
Farouq al-Jarrah (Executive Director) and Ibrahim Shaboukh --
on June 21 to discuss ongoing preparations. They reported
that they earlier issued approximately 200 invitations to
Muslim religious notables from "all eight major Islamic
schools of thought" within both Sunni and Shia Islam. To
date, roughly 150 have agreed to attend, including prominent
individuals such as the Secretary General of the Organization
of the Islamic Conference and the grand mufti of Egypt.
While invitations were sent to a few Muslim scholars from the
United States (two, to be specific),Russia and European
countries, Shaboukh said conference participants are being
drawn primarily from Arab and Islamic-majority states.


3. (C) Both Jarrah and Shaboukh said they were encouraged by
the positive response to the conference, particularly given
"sensitivities" by some Egyptians and Saudis about a
Jordanian foundation hosting the event. They noted that
religious figures from Iraq's Sunni community (including
those resident in Jordan and the UAE) had accepted the
invitations, and were hopeful that Ayatollah SISTANI and/or
other invited Iraqi Shia clerics would also attend, though
they had yet to respond. (NOTE: Jordanian National Security
Adviser Saad Kheir is in touch with SISTANI's advisers. He
and the King believe SISTANI will endorse this effort, which
could then become an important tool in defeating sectarian
violence in Iraq. END NOTE.)

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MORE TOLERANCE AND LESS FATWAS
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4. (C) Turning to the conference agenda, Shaboukh stated
that the gathering was entitled "True Islam and its Role in
Contemporary Society." King Abdullah (patron of Al Al Bayt)
is scheduled to open the conference with a formal address on
July 4. Shaboukh said he hoped the event would achieve two
major goals: demonstrate Islamic solidarity against violence
and terrorism, and emphasize principles designed to curb the
proliferation of fatwas by extremists. With regard to the
former, Shaboukh bemoaned the negative perception of Islam in
the West and asserted that "real Muslims" would never condone
acts of terrorism. Presentations and sessions at the
conference would accordingly emphasize that Islam is a faith
of tolerance, moderation and dialogue, not violence. Muslims
worldwide are called to respect and obey the laws of the
countries in which they live, he added, unless these laws are
clearly contrary to established Islamic teaching. Regarding
fatwas, Shaboukh criticized the issuance of fatwas,
particularly those that encourage violence, by "persons who
have no basis in Islam for doing so." He said that there are
established Islamic principles about who may issue fatwas and
under what circumstances, and that conference participants
would highlight and endorse these principles to make clear
the illegitimacy of fatwas issued by Muslim extremists.


5. (C) Jarrah said that the conference would conclude with
the release of a formal communiqu, but that conference
participants would have to hammer out the text after they
gathered in Amman. When asked if the communiqu's
denouncement of terrorism might exclude "national liberation
movements" or "resistance to foreign occupation," Jarrah was
adamant that the conference "will not become politicized."
He stressed that organizers would reject attempts by
participants to use the conference to condemn U.S. foreign
policy in the region.

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COMMENT
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6. (C) The Amman Message and the upcoming international
conference are at the center of King Abdullah's determined
effort to promote moderate Islam and to isolate Muslim
extremists who try to justify their violent acts under the
guise of religion. Even if the conference does not achieve
all of its organizers' aspirations, it is nevertheless a
welcome development.
HALE