Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAMA1908
2006-11-09 05:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

U/S HUGHES, ISLAMIC AFFAIRS MINISTRY DISCUSS

Tags:  PGOV PREL OEXC OIIP PTER KISL BA OFFICIALS 
pdf how-to read a cable
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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMK #1908/01 3130559
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 090559Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5953
INFO RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001908 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL OEXC OIIP PTER KISL BA OFFICIALS
BILAT
SUBJECT: U/S HUGHES, ISLAMIC AFFAIRS MINISTRY DISCUSS
COOPERATION ON SPREADING RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE


Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001908

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL OEXC OIIP PTER KISL BA OFFICIALS
BILAT
SUBJECT: U/S HUGHES, ISLAMIC AFFAIRS MINISTRY DISCUSS
COOPERATION ON SPREADING RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE


Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.


1. (U) This is an action request; please see para 10.

--------------
Summary
--------------


2. (C) In a discussion with senior Ministry of Islamic
Affairs officials November 1, U/S Hughes sought to elicit
ideas for continued cooperation to broaden the reach of the
message of religious tolerance and to ensure that terrorists
do not become the voice that represents religion in the
region. Minister Shaikh Abdulla Bin Khalid Al Khalifa warmly
welcomed U/S Hughes, praising the stable relationship between
the U.S. and Bahrain, but noted the damage sustained by the
U.S.'s reputation in the region due to the war in Iraq and
the lack of progress toward peace between Israel and the
Palestinians. Undersecretary Dr. Fareed Muftah encouraged
the continuation of exchange visits between Bahrain and the
U.S. He suggested that a March 2007 training for Bahraini
imams and an October 2007 conference on dealing with
terrorism-related issues were two venues through which the
message of moderation can reach clerics, and then through
them to students and the public at large. Dr. Muftah also
suggested the publication of a booklet documenting the
experiences of Bahraini clerics who have participated on
exchange visits so that the wider public can benefit from
their experiences. Two exchange visit participants, both
Shari'a court judges, discussed their experiences in the
United States with U/S Hughes. End summary.

--------------
Enhanced U.S./Bahrain Collaboration
--------------


3. (C) During a meeting with Minister of Islamic Affairs
Shaikh Abdulla Bin Khalid Al Khalifa, Undersecretary Dr.
Fareed Muftah, and five senior clerics, two of whom are
Shari'a court judges (one Shi'a and one Sunni) who
participated in a recent exchange visitor program in the

U.S., U/S Hughes sought suggestions on ways to encourage
further cooperation between Bahrain and the U.S. to promote
mutual religious understanding and tolerance. In welcoming
U/S Hughes, Shaikh Abdulla called attention to the long,
stable relationship between the U.S. and Bahrain, saying that
the relationship remains strong, but noted that the
reputation of the U.S. in the region has suffered following
the war in Iraq and the lack of concrete progress between the
Palestinians and Israelis. Dr. Muftah noted the
effectiveness of exchange visits to share experiences with
one another and encouraged the continuation of such programs.


4. (C) Responding to a further probe by U/S Hughes on how
both sides can broaden the reach of the message of moderation
and tolerance, Dr. Muftah said that Bahrain had tentatively
scheduled a conference for October 2007 that will focus on
security issues and how to use religious means to deal with
terrorism-related issues. He also highlighted a March 2007
training course for Bahraini imams that will include some
trainers from outside Bahrain, and extended an invitation to
U/S Hughes to nominate a trainer/teacher from the U.S. to
participate in the course. Dr. Muftah said that during a
similar course in early 2006, trainers and participants
discussed terrorism, civilization, and different Muslim sects
living together in peace and cooperation. U/S Hughes
applauded the King's role in encouraging inter-sectarian
cooperation and the Ministry's role in educating citizens.


5. (C) When asked about other means of possible
collaboration to ensure that terrorists do not represent
religion in the region, Dr. Muftah suggested that the
Ministry assemble a booklet of the experiences of those imams
who visited the U.S. so that the public will be able to
benefit from these visits. He also explained that scholars
who participate in Ministry-sponsored clerical training visit
schools and prisons, among other places, to spread the word
of moderation. In response to a question about the use of
the Internet in this public awareness effort, Dr. Muftah
stated that the Ministry maintains an updated web site and
has a "fatwa hotline" to answer questions from the public
about religious fatwas. Regarding how to get moderate voices
on to the satellite TV stations, Dr. Muftah said that Shaikh
Hameed Al Mubarak and Shaikh Adnan Al Qattan, the Shi'a and
Sunni court judges, respectively, who went on an exchange
visit to the U.S., appear regularly on television and radio
during special religious occasions.

--------------

Perceived Needs
--------------


6. (C) Shaikh Hameed suggested that a particular need was to
train clerics how to use common, simple language to
communicate the moderate message effectively to popular
culture. He added that the government needs to support and
encourage journalists to write columns on tolerance and
moderation, and that television and radio stations should
allow more air time for moderate speakers. He also suggested
that universities and schools provide more opportunities for
moderate clerics to give lectures for students.

--------------
Increase Exchange Visits
--------------


7. (C) Dr. Muftah again mentioned exchange visitors to
Bahrain as a way to reach out to the public. He said that
the judges who participated benefited by meeting Americans
from various segments of society and returned with positive
attitudes toward the U.S. He commented on the effectiveness
of press coverage of the recent visit to Bahrain by
Syrian-American Imam Mohamed Arafat to reach ordinary
Bahrainis with the message of tolerance, moderation and
cooperation. Dr. Muftah said that the Ministry had received
a letter from the Civilization Exchange and Cooperation
Foundation, Imam Arafat's organization, presenting ideas for
further contact and collaboration.


8. (C) Shaikh Hameed said that in the U.S. he had enjoyed
extensive discussions with both official and non-official
Americans and was surprised how well he and his traveling
companions were received as Arabs even after "events that
hurt the relationship between the U.S. and the Arab world."
He found the level of freedom of thought, expression, and
worship surprising and liberating as he talked with
individual Americans who discussed diverse religious ideas
freely without any fear.


9. (C) Shaikh Adnan also called attention to the benefits of
his visits to both churches and mosques in the U.S. He was
struck by the depth of adherence to the fundamental
principles of religious freedom and freedom of thought that
are part of life in the U.S. Seeking to draw a parallel in
Bahrain, he referred to the King's role in encouraging
religious cooperation and tolerance in Bahrain, as seen in
the peaceful coexistence not only between the Sunni and
Shi'a, but also between Muslims, Christians and Jews in
Bahrain.


10. (U) Action Request: Embassy Public Affairs Section will
be in touch with IIP to follow up on the possibility of an
American expert participating in the March 2007 training
program for Bahraini imams per Dr. Muftah's proposal in para

4.


11. (U) U/S Hughes cleared this cable.

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