US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI3631

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003631 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KISL, PHUM, KDEM, TC 
SUBJECT:  UAE: CONFERENCE ON ISLAMIC TEACHINGS 
 
 
1. THE UAE WILL HOST A SIX-DAY CONFERENCE BEGINNING ON 
OCTOBER 25 TO HIGHLIGHT ISLAM'S TEACHINGS ABOUT 
TOLERANCE, JUSTICE, FORGIVENESS, AND PEACEFUL 
COEXISTENCE.  THE GATHERING, CALLED "THE PROPHET'S WAY 
OF DAWA AND GUIDANCE", AIMS TO CHANGE INTERNATIONAL 
PERCEPTIONS OF ISLAM AND ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF 
RADICALISM ATTACHED BY ITS MILITANTS.  IN ANNOUNCING THE 
CONFERENCE TO THE PRESS ON OCTOBER 11, MOHAMMED AL 
DHAHERI, THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, ISLAMIC AFFAIRS AND 
AWQAF, SAID THE FEW SUICIDAL MILITANTS WHO HAVE HIJACKED 
ISLAM'S TEACHINGS ARE NOT PORTRAYING THE TRUE TENETS OF 
THE RELIGION, AND THE CONFERENCE INTENDS TO ADDRESS THE 
ISSUE OF TEACHING OF ISLAMIC CONTENT AS WELL AS THE 
PROBLEMS OF EXTREMISM AND NEGLIGENCE. SEPARATELY, HE 
TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE WILL BE 
THE LARGEST SINCE ITS INCEPTION. 
 
2. IN HIS RELEASE TO THE PRESS, THE JUSTICE MINISTER 
STRESSED THAT THE EVENT IS NOT BEING HELD BECAUSE OF 
EXTERNAL PRESSURE.  HE EXPLAINED THAT THE EMERGENCE OF 
RADICAL IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES FALSELY ASSOCIATED WITH 
ISLAM NEEDED TO BE CLARIFIED BEFORE THE GLOBAL 
COMMUNITY.  EVER SINCE THE UAE BECAME A FEDERATION IN 
1971, IT HAS WELCOMED BELIEVERS OF OTHER FAITHS, NOT 
JUST BY WORDS BUT WITH ACTIONS.  THE RULERS OF THE UAE'S 
SEVEN EMIRATES HAVE DONATED LAND TO CHRISTIAN AND HINDU 
DENOMINATIONS TO BUILD THEIR CHURCHES AND TEMPLES. 
 
3. THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE HAS INVITED SEVERAL 
INTERNATIONAL MUSLIM AND NON-MUSLIM SCHOLARS TO ADDRESS 
THE CONFERENCE, INCLUDING SHEIKH HAMZA YUSUF, FOUNDER OF 
THE ZAYTUNA INSTITUTE AND ACADEMY IN HAYWARD CALIFORNIA. 
(NOTE: THE ZAYTUNA INSTITUE IS A NON-PROFIT, EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTE WHICH HAS SEVERAL INTENSIVE PROGRAMS AND 
COURSES IN THE BAY AREA.  END NOTE.)  THE CONFERENCE IS 
UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF UAE PRESIDENT SHEIKH ZAYED. 
 
SISON