US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI4025

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 004025 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, KISL, TC 
SUBJECT: ISLAM EXPERTS PROMOTE MODERATION, CONDEMN TERROR 
 
 
1.  Summary:  The UAE hosted an international conference on Islam 
October 25-30 designed to encourage moderation in preaching and 
condemn extremism and terrorism.  Through this conference, the 
UAEG hoped to clear "wrong" notions about Islam and show that 
Islam promotes peace and tolerance.  The conference included 
sessions by prominent Muslim religious figures, including Sheikh 
Tantawi (Imam of Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo) and Sheikh Hamza 
Yousef (founder of Al-Zaytuna Institute in Hayward, California), 
Dr. Issam Al Bashir (Sudan), Sheikh Al Habib Ali Al Jafri 
(Yemen), Dr. Fahmi Howaidi (Egypt), and Sheikh Nouh Al Qudah, 
Advisor to the UAE Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and 
Awqaf.  The conference ended with a call for moderate Islamic 
preaching, increased training of Imams, and reforms of the 
Islamic studies curriculum.  End Summary. 
 
ISLAMIC PREACHING AND TEACHING 
------------------------------ 
 
2.  Conference speakers discussed how preachers, scholars, 
professors, and teachers should convey Islamic teachings to the 
faithful in the mosques and to students in the schools.  Speakers 
urged those with preaching and teaching responsibilities to use a 
unified, balanced, and moderate Islamic message to encourage 
dialogue among civilizations.  They also encouraged scholars and 
preachers to spread religious awareness and a "correct" Islamic 
foundation among Muslim youth, who might misinterpret the 
teachings of Islam. One Imam said that Islamic teachings and 
sermons should be wise and connected to the roots of Islam, but 
they should also be relevant to the current culture and language. 
Another acknowledged that the region needs to reform its 
educational and Islamic studies curricula, but stressed that this 
should not be imposed from outside. 
 
Dangers of extremism 
-------------------- 
 
3.  Scholars at the conference declared that extremism is "un- 
Islamic" and should be condemned. They stated that the acts of 
some persons, who are either enemies of, or are ignorant of, 
Islam, do not represent the Islamic nation or the teachings of 
Islam, and stressed that the issue of associating Islam with 
terrorism should be addressed by the Islamic world through 
government institutions, the educational system, and all sectors 
of society. 
 
4.  In a separate meeting with the conference speakers, Sheikh 
Mohammed bin Rashid, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of 
Defense, urged them to spread the "true nature" of Islam, and to 
correct distortions about the religion.  One conference scholar 
said that the West cannot be blamed for the distorted image of 
Islam when real responsibility for the distortion lies with 
certain groups that have an extreme attitude toward Islam. 
 
5.  UAE PRESIDENT SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYED, TOLD THE LOCAL PRESS 
THAT HIS COUNTRY REJECTS VIOLENCE AND EXTREME VIEWS THAT SMEAR 
THE IMAGE OF ISLAM.  SHEIKHA FATIMA BINT MUBARAK, WIDOW OF LATE 
PRESIDENT ZAYED, ISSUED A STATEMENT DURING THE CONFERENCE SAYING 
SHE HOPED THE CONFERENCE WOULD YIELD CONSTRUCTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS 
THAT WOULD HELP "SAVE THE MUSLIM NATION FROM THE CURRENT CRISIS." 
 
Conference recommendations 
-------------------------- 
 
6.  The conference ended with the following recommendations: 
-- need for moderation in preaching; 
-- need to adapt to changes in the modern world; 
-- refrain from using religion for political purposes; 
-- work to correct distortions of Islam as being in any way 
related to extremism and terrorism. 
 
7.  The conference called on the ministries of justice in Muslim 
countries to develop Friday sermons compatible with contemporary 
realities, and to train their imams on how best to spread the 
correct message of Islam and how to address the media.  The 
conference also called on all the ministries of education to 
review their national curricula, conduct field studies on the 
realities of teaching Islamic studies in the modern world, and 
evaluate Islamic Studies teachers to ensure they are correctly 
portraying the image of Islam.  The UAE Ministry of Justice, 
Islamic Affairs and Awqaf announced that a similar conference 
will be held annually. 
 
8. Several senior members of the UAE ruling family attended the 
sessions, including Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin 
Zayed, de facto Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, and 
Information and Culture Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.  U.S. 
Embassy staff attended many of the proceedings. 
 
Comment: 
------- 
 
9.  The conference provided an important platform for the UAE 
Government to speak publicly about its opposition to terrorism 
and extremism.  Hosting such a timely conference carries a 
message that the UAE encourages all Arab and Muslim nations to 
maintain a dialogue with the West.  It is an acknowledgment on 
the part of the UAE and other Muslim countries that 
misconceptions and misinterpretations of Islam do exist and that 
it is the Muslim world's responsibility to correct these 
distortions that extremists exploit. 
SISON