Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05AMMAN5258
2005-06-30 14:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

C-NE5-00725: UPDATE ON JORDANIAN CONFERENCE ON

Tags:  PREL PTER KISL IZ 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 AMMAN 005258 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER KISL IZ JO
SUBJECT: C-NE5-00725: UPDATE ON JORDANIAN CONFERENCE ON
ISLAM

REF: A. STATE 121734

B. AMMAN 04991

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005258

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER KISL IZ JO
SUBJECT: C-NE5-00725: UPDATE ON JORDANIAN CONFERENCE ON
ISLAM

REF: A. STATE 121734

B. AMMAN 04991

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: In separate meetings on June 28 and 29 with
King Abdullah, National Security Advisor Saad Khayr, and
special adviser to the King (and the King's first cousin)
Prince Ghazi, Charge received an update on plans for the
conference on "True Islam and its Role in Modern Society," to
be held in Amman from July 4-6. Response to the conference
from top clerics in the region has been positive; Ayatollah
Sistani from Iraq has agreed to send a representative and
Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah has signaled his support.
Organizers hope the conference will remove religious cover
for terrorism by issuing an agreed statement that clarifies
who may issue a fatwa, rejects the labeling of anyone
practicing the five pillars of Islam as an apostate, and
declares that Muslims have a duty to obey the laws of their
countries of residence. Further information is provided
below. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) PARTICIPANTS: Approximately 170 representatives from
all eight orthodox schools of Islamic jurisprudence (four
Sunni, three Shia and a school known as Zahirism) from more
than 40 countries will participate in the conference. These
include the grand muftis/top Muslim clerics of Egypt, Syria,
Lebanon, Oman and Jordan, as well as influential imam Dr.
Yusuf al-Qaradawi (a regular staple on Al-Jazeera and other
satellite TV channels). Clerics from Saudi Arabia will also
attend with the backing of Crown Prince Abdullah, who
(according to Prince Ghazi) has thrown his support behind the
conference. Of particular note, Iraqi Ayatollah Sistani has
agreed to send Sayed Mohammad Musawi as his representative
and is reportedly on board with the conference goals
described below.


3. (C) RATIONALE: King Abdullah views this conference as a
means of containing Shia/Sunni violence in Iraq by depriving
terrorists of religious cover. Prince Ghazi explained that
the conditions were ripe for this conference because of a)
the impact of 9/11 on the world, b) increasing
disillusionment with radical Wahabi teachings, and c) the
support of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah. It was also, he
said, an opportunity to extend an olive branch to the Shias
of Iraq. He expressed his view that Iraqi Shia had been
gravely "wronged," noting that while outrage often followed
the death of one Iraqi Sunni, Shias were told to remain calm
after thousands of their number had been killed. For this
reason, he saw Sistani's green light for the conference as
critically important. With respect to Saudi Wahabis, Ghazi
said he "didn't care" what they thought about the conference
as long as CP Abdullah had given his backing.


4. (C) GOALS: According to Khayr, the conference will help
rectify perceived Arab silence in the face of terrorism by
releasing an agreed statement that will accomplish three main
goals: 1) define who is, and who is not (e.g., no one from
outside a recognized school of Islamic jurisprudence),
qualified to issue a fatwa; 2) emphasize that no one may
dispute the Islamic identity of (or label as an apostate) a
self-professed Muslim who practices the five pillars of
Islam; and 3) declare that Muslims should respect and abide
by the laws of the country in which they reside as long as
these laws are not directly contrary to Islam. Prince Ghazi
confirmed these goals, stating that the consensus reached
would be so well-grounded in the Koran and Islamic teachings
that no one would be able to dispute it. He added that he
hoped conference participants would also affirm that Muslims
living in non-Islamic countries (so long as they are afforded
full rights) have a duty to defend these countries against
physical attacks, including attacks from other Muslims.
(NOTE: A copy of a preliminary draft statement has been faxed
to NEA/ELA. END NOTE.)


5. (C) FOLLOW-ON STRATEGY: Once a joint statement embracing
the above goals is signed at the conclusion of the
conference, organizers anticipate that the leading clerics in
attendance will issue individual fatwas that conform to the
statement. Sistani has agreed to issue a sympathetic fatwa,
as well. Prince Ghazi noted that the statement would be
taken to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in an
attempt to obtain its formal endorsement. He envisioned the
statement serving as the basis for a change in curriculum,
from kindergarten to post-graduate studies, throughout the
Islamic world. He stressed that the conference was integral
to "winning the hearts and minds" of Muslims so as to defeat
terrorism, and cautioned the U.S. to keep at arm's length
from the event to avoid accusations of Western interference.
HALE