US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI3494

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003494 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PINR, TC 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON JUSTICE/ISLAMIC AFFAIRS 
MINISTER 
 
REF: ABU DHABI  03252 
 
Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and 1.4 (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  UAE Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs 
Mohammed Bin Nakhira Al-Dhareri emphasized to Ambassador 
September 29 that the Ministry pursues transparency in government. 
He explained the role of the Ministry in overseeing mosques and 
religious curriculum in schools, emphasizing the positive impact 
on national security.  He expressed his desire to work closely 
with the USG on all issues in his portfolio.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (U) On September 29, Ambassador paid her initial call on UAE 
Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs, Mohammed Bin Nakhira 
Al-Dhaheri.  U/S for International Cooperation and Planning Abdul 
Rahim Al Awadi and APAO also participated.  Al Dhaheri provided 
an overview of UAEG initiatives to promote moderate Islam both in 
mosques and in primary education.  He said the UAEG was aware that 
it had a serious problem with school curricula and was working 
towards correcting it. Al-Dhaheri maintained that the public at 
large, including the majority of ex-pat Muslim workers, agreed 
with the government's approach to tackling radical Islam.  He said 
that his ministry recognized the public concerns regarding the 
government's oversight role in both Sunni and Shi'a mosques and 
education.  As they have seen the results reflected in the UAE's 
positive security environment, the public has by and large 
accepted the focus on moderate Islam, he said. 
 
3.  (C) Al Dhaheri emphasized that the Ministry of Islamic 
Affairs (Awqaf) had initiated a reform process some years ago, 
although many of the more sensitive issues will take time to be 
resolved.  Other countries in the region looked to the UAE as a 
model on which to base their own reform, he noted.   The Minister 
explained that one of the main goals of the Ministry was to promote 
a better, more tolerant, understanding of Islam.  "We practice the 
tradition of our fathers and grandfathers, the Islam of peace and 
love. We reject what is happening now in the name of Islam."  He 
detailed how the Ministry exercises supervision over all mosques 
in the country.  All imams are appointed and licensed by the 
government; Friday sermons are drafted by a Ministry committee and 
distributed to the imams, who read from the same script. 
Multi-lingual imams may translate into other languages for the 
expatriate populations of Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc., but in all 
other respects the Friday sermon is identical in every Sunni mosque. 
(A similar process is followed for the Friday sermons  drafted for 
the minority Shita population). 
 
4.  (U) The Minister also expressed his desire to work closely with 
the USG on all matters related to his second responsibility, the 
Justice portfolio. He said the UAE was "anxious to benefit from the 
wide expertise of the U.S. in many areas, including the training of 
judges and development of forensic evidence labs."  He added that 
the UAE Judicial Institute had instituted programs to train new 
judges and attorneys and help them understand new laws.  The UAE 
constantly seeks advice and suggestions from other countries, 
including the U.S., on how to improve the system of governance, the 
Minister noted. 
 
5.  (U) Ambassador then turned to the robust cooperation between the 
Ministry of Justice and the USG.  She pointed to the upcoming Export 
Control Legal Technical Session (Oct 9-11), and inquired about the 
status of two key pieces of draft legislation covering trafficking in 
persons and the labor law.  She complimented the UAEG on its 
recent passage of anti-terrorism legislation.  The Ambassador also 
affirmed her commitment to pursuing the UAEG request of for a Mutual 
Legal Assistance Treaty. On the subject of judicial reform, she 
described the new regional MEPI office at the embassy and detailed key 
initiatives, including the Alternate Dispute Resolution 
program and the Commercial Law Development Program. 
 
------------------------------ 
Bio Details: Al Dhaheri 
------------------------------ 
 
6.  (U) Mohammed Bin Nakhira Al Dhaheri, born December 1955, 
Al Ain, Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE.  Bachelor of Law, Emirates 
University, 1982. Deputy Director of the Military Judiciary of the 
UAE Armed Forces, 1982-1992.  UAE Attorney General, 1992-1997. 
1997 to present, Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf). 
 
SISON