US embassy cable - 04AMMAN1730

UNCLAS AMMAN 001730 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SECSTATE FOR PDAS LAROCCO, U/S TUTWILER, A/S HARRISON, NEA 
AROMANOWSKI, ECA/PE/V/G/N; FOR LMOODY AND RREMEIKA, NEA/PPD 
DBENZE; NEA/PD FOR QUINN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, SCUL,  KPAO,  OEXC,  JO 
SUBJECT: SHARIA' LAW FACULTY PRAISE THE "RELIGION IN 
AMERICA" IV PROGRAM, JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 14, 2004 
 
 
1. Summary.  Ambassador Gnehm and PA met on Feb. 25 with 
three Sharia' Law graduate students who also assist in the 
mosques in Ma'an, Mafraq and the outskirts of Amman.  A 
cleric from Ma'an -- an area known for its Salafi and gun- 
running ties to Saudi Arabia-- told us that immediately on 
returning he held a Khutba after Friday prayers, saying that 
"the spirit of Islam" was to be found everywhere among the 
America and calling for a distinction between the 
objectionable American foreign policies and the ordinary 
citizens of the United States.  "I was one of the toughest 
preachers against America and everything American," he said, 
so people were astonished by my words.  There was so much 
talk in Ma'an about my description of America that the local 
high school invited me to give a talk on the secret behind 
America's success as a society." 
 
The other two part-time preachers said that they too had 
been besieged by people wanting to hear their impressions of 
America -- as men of religion.  One of them said that he 
gave a sermon to 2,000 in which he spoke of his warm 
reception in America by Christians and Jews eager to learn 
about Islam first-hand.  End Summary 
 
-More Dialogue Wanted 
 
2. Though the Sharia' Law students strongly denounced U.S. 
policy in Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, they 
said that their view of American society and culture had 
changed radically as a result of their visit.  They urged us 
to open up more channels for them to communicate with 
Americans, especially Christians and Jews, in order to 
conduct a dialogue about common religious values.  The 
returned IVs offered to brief outgoing IVs to allay their 
fears about their reception in America.  They also 
encouraged us to hold regular meetings for the returned IVs 
to maintain the linkages, something we will make every 
effort to do.  For example, Ambassador Gnehm has hosted 
iftars for this group and other exchange alumni over the 
past two years.  Secondly, the Muslim clerics described a 
powerful thirst for more direct contact and credible 
information about Americans among their conservative Islamic 
communities.  PA hopes to enroll several of these 
participants in our ALC's English classes to prepare them 
for possible academic exchanges, and to conduct more 
programs with this important, religiously conservative 
audience. 
 
A Challenging Program, but Worth It 
 
3. Over the years, the Religion in America IV has not been 
always easy to administer, largely because of the 
conservative Islamic orientation of many of the 
participants.  Nevertheless, here in Jordan it is one of our 
most effective means of challenging stereotypes about 
American society, religion and culture among a large segment 
of religiously conservative youth. 
 
Our special thanks and greetings from the IVs to escorts 
Apkar Hagopian and Mohamed Shaheen.  Our deep appreciation 
as well to Robin Remeika and the Academy of Educational 
Development who managed this program through some very rough 
spots.  In our opinion, the impact on these three people and 
their communities made it very worthwhile. 
 
Hale