US embassy cable - 05AMMAN1785

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001785 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KISL, PHUM, KWMN, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN ISLAMISTS UNDER PRESSURE AS GOJ PUSHES 
AMMAN MESSAGE 
 
REF: A. 04 AMMAN 9717 
 
     B. AMMAN 1719 
     C. 04 AMMAN 8868 
     D. 04 AMMAN 7619 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (C)  King Abdullah continues to emphasize Jordan's "Amman 
Message" endorsing a moderate Islam.  The GOJ hosted a 
meeting of international Islamic clerics to plan the agenda 
for a summer conference based on the Amman Message, which 
will seek to promote Islamic unity and outline Islam's stand 
on such issues as the role of women and terrorism. 
Meanwhile, Jordan's Islamists are under growing government 
pressure.  The GOJ has confiscated charity boxes from 
mosques, announced it is studying whether Islamists should be 
brought up on charges for giving "political" speeches from 
the pulpit, and has allegedly moved to bar donations to 
non-governmental Qur'anic schools.  Critics say the GOJ's 
hard-line approach may backfire and risks driving religious 
teaching underground.  End Summary. 
 
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PUTTING THE AMMAN MESSAGE CENTER STAGE 
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2.  (U)  King Abdullah continues to advocate the Amman 
Message, unveiled in November 2004, which proclaims that the 
"true nature" of Islam is one of moderation and tolerance 
(ref A).  During a February 24 meeting with British PM Blair 
in London, Abdullah emphasized Jordan's role in 
cross-cultural and interfaith dialogue, according to press 
reports.  The King noted that the Amman Message calls for the 
return of the "moderate voice of Islam" and encourages the 
"silent majority" to promote Islam as a faith of tolerance 
and moderation capable of building bridges of understanding 
between all nations of the world. 
 
3.  (U)  In this vein, Prince Ali Bin Nayef, acting as regent 
during the King's European tour, on February 23 opened a 
meeting of international Islamic clerics in Amman to plan the 
agenda for an Islamic conference in July.  Minister of Awqaf 
and Islamic Affairs Ahmad Hilayel told participants that the 
upcoming conference would seek to build upon the themes 
outlined in the Amman Message and to promote Islamic unity. 
He hoped the conference would tackle many issues, including 
determining Islam's stand on the role of women and relations 
with non-Muslims inside and outside Muslim societies.  He 
added that the challenges facing Muslims, including extremism 
and terrorism, would be major topics of discussion.  Chief 
Qadi Izzeddine Khatib Tamimi, who read out the message during 
Eid prayers in Amman back in November, told the clerics, "the 
Amman Message was partly an expression of (Jordan's) stand 
and a response to a commitment and a responsibility."  He 
noted that the message was initiated in Amman "out of 
Jordan's spiritual and historical responsibility shouldered 
by the Hashemite leadership." 
 
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KEEPING THE ISLAMISTS IN LINE 
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4.  (SBU)  The government is working hard to ensure its 
Islamists stay in line.  The GOJ has confiscated more than 
1,000 collection boxes for charities reportedly run by the 
Muslim Brotherhood (MB) throughout Jordan for the stated 
reason of verifying that the charities are legitimate.  The 
Ministry of Social Development, which is responsible for 
registering charitable organizations, denied the move is part 
of a campaign against the MB; it claims it is intended to 
"regulate" the process of collecting funds for charities.  In 
addition, contacts tell us the government is trying to 
enforce a ban on donations to private Qur'anic schools 
affiliated with the MB's charities around the country. 
 
5.  (U)  Separately, the governor of Amman referred Islamic 
Action Front (IAF) MP Mohammad Abu Fares and IAF members 
Ahmad Kafawin and Salem Falahat to the attorney general for 
staging a "rally" after Friday prayers on February 18 without 
prior approval as required by the Public Assembly Law. 
(NOTE: The professional associations are currently embroiled 
in a similar controversy with the government over its 
"political activity" (ref B).  END NOTE.)  Abu Fares told the 
press that in additional to speaking on the Prophet 
Mohammad's teachings, he had criticized Jordan's 
normalization with Israel as undermining national economic 
interests.  The IAF lashed out against the move to prosecute 
the three men, saying the government was bent on confiscating 
public freedoms, gagging people's mouths and targeting 
Islamists.  A Ministry of Interior spokesman countered by 
stating the government was merely enforcing the law. 
 
6.  (U)  In an interview with Arabic weekly al-Sabeel, IAF 
Secretary General Hamza Mansour slammed the government's 
 
SIPDIS 
actions, accusing the GOJ of "fighting against the people," 
and of seeking to subjugate Jordanians to the "principles of 
Wadi Araba," a reference to Jordan's peace treaty with 
Israel.  He said the government has no real intention to 
reform, that it launches projects without any substance for 
the purpose of distracting the public, and turns a "blind 
eye" to foreign institutes that "buy" NGOs. 
 
7.  (C)  Mansour is embroiled in a controversy of his own.  A 
local paper carried a photo of Mansour meeting orthodox 
Jewish rabbis at a recent conference in Beirut on the 
Palestinian right of return.  Although these rabbis are 
affiliated with a group that rejects Israeli statehood on 
theological grounds, the photo caused a stir nevertheless. 
Mansour denied meeting the rabbis, despite the picture, but 
said they represented a "good cause."  MP Raed Qaqish cried 
foul, noting that he had been targeted by Mansour's ilk last 
year for debating an Israeli on al-Hurra regarding the 
regional situation (ref C). 
 
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AWQAF MINISTER TO FACE QUESTIONS ON MISUSE OF FUNDS 
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8.  (SBU)  The Minister of Awqaf, while less confrontational 
than embattled Interior Minister Habashneh, has his own 
issues with Parliament.  MPs Fawaz Zoubi (East Banker-Ramtha) 
and Ghazi al-Zaben (East Banker-Central Badia) have sent a 
list of questions to Hilayel concerning allegations that the 
Awqaf ministry used zakat funds -- charity contributions for 
the poor required of all Muslims -- improperly. 
Specifically, the MPs want Hilayel to answer charges that the 
Ministry used zakat charity funds collected by the Ministry 
to cover hajj expenses of influential Jordanians, including 
members of the royal court and the military.  The 
constitution requires the minister to respond to the 
questions within two weeks, after which the MPs have the 
right to call Hilayel before Parliament for questioning. 
 
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GOJ'S TACTICS COULD BACKFIRE 
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9.  (C)  Former Awqaf Minister (and MB supporter at the time) 
Raef Nijim, who currently serves as deputy for a royal 
committee charged with restoration projects for Islamic holy 
places in Jerusalem, criticized the GOJ's heavy-handed 
tactics.  He told poloff on March 1 that the private Qur'anic 
schools, which are affiliated with Islamic charities, will 
cease to operate without private contributions.  The 
government thus risks creating an even larger problem, 
according to Nijim.  People will continue to study the 
Qur'an, but may not turn to government schools since the 
GOJ's strategy of cracking down on preachers and regulating 
the sermons (ref D) gives the impression that the security 
services are trying to "control the message."  In Nijim's 
view, it would be much better for the government to allow the 
schools to operate so that their teachings can be monitored. 
Otherwise, people will be driven underground for religious 
guidance where it is much more difficult to keep track of 
what they are learning. 
 
10.  (U)  Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at 
http://www.state.sgov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site through 
the Department of State's SIPRNET home page. 
HALE