Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS7788
2006-12-14 10:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
LILLE INSTITUTE CONCEIVED TO PROMULGATE MODERATE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #7788 3481011 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 141011Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3783
UNCLAS PARIS 007788
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: FR PGOV PHUM SCUL
SUBJECT: LILLE INSTITUTE CONCEIVED TO PROMULGATE MODERATE
ISLAM AND INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
UNCLAS PARIS 007788
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: FR PGOV PHUM SCUL
SUBJECT: LILLE INSTITUTE CONCEIVED TO PROMULGATE MODERATE
ISLAM AND INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
1. (SBU) Summary: APP Lille Consul and Embassy POLOFF
called November 29 on Mohamed Bechari, Chairman of the
recently inaugurated Institut Avicenne des Sciences Humaines
(IASH),a multi-disciplinary private educational
establishment devoted to the study of Islamic theology,
history and the Arabic language. Mr. Bechari discussed his
vision of an establishment that would provide an alternative,
moderate view of Islam to Muslims living in France and French
society at large. He also hoped the IASH would serve as an
interfaith forum for the exchange of ideas and perspectives.
APP Consul emphasized our interest in working with moderate
Islamic institutions, discussed the possibility of Embassy
speakers addressing the students and faculty of IASH, and
highlighted the Embassy,s International Visitor (IVLP)
program as a means of promoting ongoing dialogue. End Summary
2. (SBU) APP Lille Consul and Embassy POLOFF called on
Mohamed Bechari, Chairman of the newly inaugurated Institut
Avicenne des Sciences Humaines (IASH),on November 29. After
a tour of the recently renovated physical plant, Mr. Bechari
expressed his hope that the institute would represent and
reinforce a more moderate Islam, able to live peacefully
among other religious faiths in France,s multicultural
society. According to Bechari, "(The Institute) will
represent the historical richness of humanistic Arab thought,
before the large ideological ditch of modern times."
3. (SBU) To that end, Bechari explained that the IASH would
provide professional training for imams and chaplains as well
as social science curricula, including programs in Arabic,
Muslim civilization, and sociology. "The first post-9/11
casualty was the Muslim faith," said Bechari. "Islam is a
religion of peace...We must cease proclaiming meaningless
expressions, like 'the clash of civilizations' and
'intercultural dialogue', which lead us down blind alleys if
they are not clarified and reinforced through action." The
IASH has received assistance from the city of Lille and lists
among its "foreign partners" institutions in Algeria, Egypt,
Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey, and Yemen.
4. (SBU) The IASH,s moderate agenda has won it the support
of some in the larger religious community. Monsignor Defois,
Catholic Bishop of Lille and member of the institute,s
advisory committee, commented during the inauguration
ceremony that "Islam is a part of our European roots. I hope
that we explore those roots together in order to establish a
shared philosophical foundation."
5. (SBU) At the time of its inauguration in late November,
the IASH had 80 enrolled students, many of whom were already
college educated and planned to undertake their studies in
addition to continuing full-time jobs. APP Lille Consul told
Bechari that the USG was eager to maintain contact,
mentioning specifically the prospect of Embassy speakers
addressing IASH faculty and students and describing the
Embassy,s International Visitor program as an exchange
option. Bechari thanked the Consul and added that he would
like to reciprocate, inviting Americans to spend time with
the Muslim community he planned to establish at IASH.
6. (SBU) Comment and bio note: Bechari, born in 1967 in
Oujda, Morocco, is the President of the Federation of the
Muslims of France (FNMF),a prominent national group
affiliated with Morocco. In September of 2004, Bechari, then
also serving as a Vice-President of the French Council of
Muslim Worship (CFCM),France,s most prominent national
Muslim group, had controversial meetings with the Lebanese
Shiite spiritual leader of Hezbollah, Sheik Fadlallah, and
the former leader of the Islamic Salvation Front, Algerian
Islamist Abassi Madani. The second meeting, in particular,
"shocked" the CFCM chairman and rector of the Grand Mosque of
Paris, Dalil Boubakeur, revealing the tensions among the
various Muslim groups within the CFCM and highlighting the
difficulty that any single entity has in representing the
spectrum of France,s five million plus Muslims.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: FR PGOV PHUM SCUL
SUBJECT: LILLE INSTITUTE CONCEIVED TO PROMULGATE MODERATE
ISLAM AND INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
1. (SBU) Summary: APP Lille Consul and Embassy POLOFF
called November 29 on Mohamed Bechari, Chairman of the
recently inaugurated Institut Avicenne des Sciences Humaines
(IASH),a multi-disciplinary private educational
establishment devoted to the study of Islamic theology,
history and the Arabic language. Mr. Bechari discussed his
vision of an establishment that would provide an alternative,
moderate view of Islam to Muslims living in France and French
society at large. He also hoped the IASH would serve as an
interfaith forum for the exchange of ideas and perspectives.
APP Consul emphasized our interest in working with moderate
Islamic institutions, discussed the possibility of Embassy
speakers addressing the students and faculty of IASH, and
highlighted the Embassy,s International Visitor (IVLP)
program as a means of promoting ongoing dialogue. End Summary
2. (SBU) APP Lille Consul and Embassy POLOFF called on
Mohamed Bechari, Chairman of the newly inaugurated Institut
Avicenne des Sciences Humaines (IASH),on November 29. After
a tour of the recently renovated physical plant, Mr. Bechari
expressed his hope that the institute would represent and
reinforce a more moderate Islam, able to live peacefully
among other religious faiths in France,s multicultural
society. According to Bechari, "(The Institute) will
represent the historical richness of humanistic Arab thought,
before the large ideological ditch of modern times."
3. (SBU) To that end, Bechari explained that the IASH would
provide professional training for imams and chaplains as well
as social science curricula, including programs in Arabic,
Muslim civilization, and sociology. "The first post-9/11
casualty was the Muslim faith," said Bechari. "Islam is a
religion of peace...We must cease proclaiming meaningless
expressions, like 'the clash of civilizations' and
'intercultural dialogue', which lead us down blind alleys if
they are not clarified and reinforced through action." The
IASH has received assistance from the city of Lille and lists
among its "foreign partners" institutions in Algeria, Egypt,
Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey, and Yemen.
4. (SBU) The IASH,s moderate agenda has won it the support
of some in the larger religious community. Monsignor Defois,
Catholic Bishop of Lille and member of the institute,s
advisory committee, commented during the inauguration
ceremony that "Islam is a part of our European roots. I hope
that we explore those roots together in order to establish a
shared philosophical foundation."
5. (SBU) At the time of its inauguration in late November,
the IASH had 80 enrolled students, many of whom were already
college educated and planned to undertake their studies in
addition to continuing full-time jobs. APP Lille Consul told
Bechari that the USG was eager to maintain contact,
mentioning specifically the prospect of Embassy speakers
addressing IASH faculty and students and describing the
Embassy,s International Visitor program as an exchange
option. Bechari thanked the Consul and added that he would
like to reciprocate, inviting Americans to spend time with
the Muslim community he planned to establish at IASH.
6. (SBU) Comment and bio note: Bechari, born in 1967 in
Oujda, Morocco, is the President of the Federation of the
Muslims of France (FNMF),a prominent national group
affiliated with Morocco. In September of 2004, Bechari, then
also serving as a Vice-President of the French Council of
Muslim Worship (CFCM),France,s most prominent national
Muslim group, had controversial meetings with the Lebanese
Shiite spiritual leader of Hezbollah, Sheik Fadlallah, and
the former leader of the Islamic Salvation Front, Algerian
Islamist Abassi Madani. The second meeting, in particular,
"shocked" the CFCM chairman and rector of the Grand Mosque of
Paris, Dalil Boubakeur, revealing the tensions among the
various Muslim groups within the CFCM and highlighting the
difficulty that any single entity has in representing the
spectrum of France,s five million plus Muslims.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON