Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KUWAIT1158
2009-12-13 13:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

U.S. SPEAKER, DR. REZA ASLAN SPEAKS TO KUWAITI AUDIENCES ON

Tags:  OEXC OIIP SCUL KPAO ZR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4656
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHKU #1158/01 3471354
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131354Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4284
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001158 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP (JSAWYER),NEA/PPD (DBENZE, PAGNEW),
IIP/NEA/SCA (AMANDA BATT)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC OIIP SCUL KPAO ZR
SUBJECT: U.S. SPEAKER, DR. REZA ASLAN SPEAKS TO KUWAITI AUDIENCES ON
GLOBAL TRENDS IN ISLAM

REF: 11/25/09 WILLIAMS-SAWYER CLASSIFIED E-MAIL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001158

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP (JSAWYER),NEA/PPD (DBENZE, PAGNEW),
IIP/NEA/SCA (AMANDA BATT)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC OIIP SCUL KPAO ZR
SUBJECT: U.S. SPEAKER, DR. REZA ASLAN SPEAKS TO KUWAITI AUDIENCES ON
GLOBAL TRENDS IN ISLAM

REF: 11/25/09 WILLIAMS-SAWYER CLASSIFIED E-MAIL


1. (U) Summary: Dr. Reza Aslan, a well known Iranian-American
scholar and author of several books on Islam, spoke to a diversified
group of scholars, intellectuals, Islamic thinkers, officials and
students from a wide range of political, economic and social
backgrounds during his November 22-25 visit to Kuwait. Although his
prepared speeches concentrated on global trends in Islam, Dr. Aslan
answered a wide range of questions during Q&A periods and during a
press roundtable discussion, dealing with other aspects of Islam,
and offered his personal views of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle
East. End summary.


2. (U) At American University of Kuwait and Kuwait University, Dr.
Aslan shared his views on modern trends in Islam in the U.S. and
worldwide, noting that increased literacy rates, especially among
women, the availability of the internet, the presence of charismatic
television figures such as Egyptian Amre Khalid, and the migration
of Muslims to the U.S. and Europe, is changing traditional Islam.
He asserted that "Muslim young people are easily able to access
popular Islamic websites such as www.fatwaonline.com," and are
therefore no longer dependent on their local Imam for advice.
Although Amre Khalid, who reaches millions of people worldwide, did
not receive any formal religious training whatsoever, he is able "to
put his finger on the 'pulse' of the street and identify solutions
and alternatives for youths, by speaking a universal language and
promoting moderation and interfaith tolerance between religions."
Thanks to the increasingly high literacy rates among women, Dr.
Aslan asserted that, "Muslim women today have a gender neutral role
in Islam as religious leaders, by taking an active part in modern
interpretations of the Quran. Women are portrayed in a positive
role, a role they pioneered since the early beginnings of Islam, and
are now assuming this active role again."


3. (U) The Ambassador hosted a dinner in honor of Dr. Aslan, which
was attended by a select group of Kuwaiti intellectuals, scholars
and business leaders. The discussion revolved around political

Islam, domestic political developments in Iran, the hot issues of
the hour on the local Kuwaiti political scene and the increasing
influence of government and conservative elements of society on
local politics. Dr. Aslan met with officials at the Diplomatic
Institute from the Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discussed
U.S. foreign policies and relations with Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia
and Iraq, and stability in the Gulf area in general.


4. (U) Press roundup: Dr. Aslan participated in a discussion with
four journalists from conservative local newspapers. The discussion
revolved around U.S. foreign policy in the region, Iranian domestic
and regional politics, the overwhelmingly positive experience of
Muslims in America and gender equality. All of the conservative
newspapers present, in addition to liberal Arabic daily Al-Rai,
covered the Q & A by Dr. Aslan accurately. They also noted the
Embassy's statement that Dr. Aslan's views were his own and did not
necessarily represent the official positions of the USG. Most of
the headlines mentioned Dr. Aslan's suggestion that Kuwait, which
has the trust of both Saudi Arabia and Iran, would be in a good
position to act as a mediator between the two countries. His
assertion that he was personally certain that there were Iranian
intelligence agents in the Gulf, while stressing that it was common
practice for all governments to employ such agents, also made
several headlines. None of the papers picked up Aslan's statement
that he was personally certain that, contrary to information cited
in the State Department's Religious Freedom report, the Kuwaiti
government closely monitors Shiite mosques (Note: following the
round-table, the Embassy sent a written clarification to the
journalists on the State Department's position. End note).

The following short summary of the longer Al Watan article appeared
in Al Watan Daily, an English language paper:

Headline: "Kuwait Can Mediate Between Iran,Saudi"

"American academic Reza Aslan stressed the efficient role that
Kuwait performs in the region, and said that because of this Kuwait
can act as a mediator between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Aslan, who is
of Iranian origin, asserted during a meeting organized by the
American Embassy in Kuwait attended by several local newspapers'
editors that Iran cannot pose a threat to Arab countries since it
seeks to be a powerful country that binds Muslims together. He
stated that Iran is working on cementing its relationships with the
GCC countries, giving as examples its commercial relationships with
Oman and Dubai. He added that despite mounting tension with Saudi
Arabia, Iran is attempting to be friendly with GCC countries, and
eventually the rest of the Arab region. He went on to say that all
countries have intelligence agents in other countries, and that it
is common practice for all governments, citing that despite the
unique relationship between the U.S. and Israel, Israelis often
attempt to spy on America."


KUWAIT 00001158 002 OF 002



5. (U) Post would like to thank IIP and Ms. Amanda Batt for availing
us with an opportunity to program a prominent American scholar and
published author, Dr. Reza Aslan on a U.S. Speaker Program.

JONES