C-NE5-00725: OPENING OF INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005357 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2015 TAGS: PTER KISL JO PERL SUBJECT: C-NE5-00725: OPENING OF INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC CONFERENCE IN AMMAN REF: A. AMMAN 05258 ¶B. AMMAN 04991 ¶C. AMMAN 01785 Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (SBU) The international conference on "True Islam and its Role in Modern Society" opened in Amman on July 4 amidst great fanfare. Large banners promoting the conference adorned major thoroughfares in the city, while prominent advertisements for the conference were splashed across major dailies as approximately 170 participants from more than 40 countries arrived in Jordan for the event. King Abdullah presided over the opening session, which Charge attended, speaking for 15 minutes (without notes) in Arabic. His speech demonstrated a fluent command of the subject matter and included several Koranic quotations. ¶2. (U) The text of the King's message (which was later printed in several newspapers) embraced the principles of moderation and tolerance contained in the Amman Message (ref C),and emphasized the importance of unity among different schools of Islamic jurisprudence in rejecting violence. "The divisions between the children of the (Islamic nation),acts of violence and terrorism practiced by some groups and organizations, accusations of apostasy and the killing of Muslims in the name of Islam, do not correspond to the principles and spirit of Islam, and Islam disavows them," the King told participants. Urging the followers of different schools to join together in agreeing on the fundamental principles of Islam, King Abdullah stressed that unity was also the key to ending confusion with respect to the issuance of fatwas. "Acknowledgment of the schools of jurisprudence within Islam would permit the emergence of a fundamental methodology in the issuance of fatwas, and the definition of who is qualified for this undertaking. This, with God's will, would end the practice of defaming others as apostates and close the door on ignorant people who practice killing and terror ... in the name of Islam." In addition to his opening address, King Abdullah hosted a large dinner party for conference participants and local notables. ¶3. (U) The conference has generated significant publicity. Local press coverage on July 5 was dominated by prominent stories extolling the conference and the King's speech. Several op-ed pieces praised King Abdullah (not surprisingly) for his wisdom and candor. Arabic daily Al-Rai's political editor, for example, commended the King for his "practical, precise and forthright" analysis on the problems plaguing Islam and for reminding Muslims "that we ... have fallen short of fulfilling our duty to our faith and ourselves." Conference participants (some of whom are scheduled to appear on Jordan TV to promote moderate Islam) have also issued positive statements to local reporters. Saudi national Abdulaziz Altwaijri, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) told reporters that his institution "fully supports the content of the Amman Message," and called for integrating its principles in school curricula in Islamic countries. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: The King's remarks centered on the major goals that Jordan has for this conference (ref A): defining who is qualified to issue a fatwa, denouncing attempts to declare Muslims who practice the five pillars of Islam to be apostates, and rejecting violence and terror in the name of Islam. The strong turnout by Shia clerics and scholars should help in extending the reach of the conference (and the Amman Message) throughout the Islamic world. Work on a final conference communiqu is still continuing; post will forward a copy to Washington once we have received it. Charge will follow up with King Abdullah and Prince Ghazi (ref A) for further information, including interaction between Iraqi Sunni and Shia representatives. END COMMENT. HALE