US embassy cable - 05AMMAN5357

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005357 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2015 
TAGS: PTER, KISL, JO, PERL 
SUBJECT: C-NE5-00725: OPENING OF INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC 
CONFERENCE IN AMMAN 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 05258 
     B. AMMAN 04991 
     C. AMMAN 01785 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
1.  (SBU) The international conference on "True Islam and its 
Role in Modern Society" opened in Amman on July 4 amidst 
great fanfare.  Large banners promoting the conference 
adorned major thoroughfares in the city, while prominent 
advertisements for the conference were splashed across major 
dailies as approximately 170 participants from more than 40 
countries arrived in Jordan for the event.  King Abdullah 
presided over the opening session, which Charge attended, 
speaking for 15 minutes (without notes) in Arabic.  His 
speech demonstrated a fluent command of the subject matter 
and included several Koranic quotations. 
 
2.  (U) The text of the King's message (which was later 
printed in several newspapers) embraced the principles of 
moderation and tolerance contained in the Amman Message (ref 
C), and emphasized the importance of unity among different 
schools of Islamic jurisprudence in rejecting violence.  "The 
divisions between the children of the (Islamic nation), acts 
of violence and terrorism practiced by some groups and 
organizations, accusations of apostasy and the killing of 
Muslims in the name of Islam, do not correspond to the 
principles and spirit of Islam, and Islam disavows them," the 
King told participants.  Urging the followers of different 
schools to join together in agreeing on the fundamental 
principles of Islam, King Abdullah stressed that unity was 
also the key to ending confusion with respect to the issuance 
of fatwas.  "Acknowledgment of the schools of jurisprudence 
within Islam would permit the emergence of a fundamental 
methodology in the issuance of fatwas, and the definition of 
who is qualified for this undertaking.  This, with God's 
will, would end the practice of defaming others as apostates 
and close the door on ignorant people who practice killing 
and terror ... in the name of Islam."  In addition to his 
opening address, King Abdullah hosted a large dinner party 
for conference participants and local notables. 
 
3.  (U) The conference has generated significant publicity. 
Local press coverage on July 5 was dominated by prominent 
stories extolling the conference and the King's speech. 
Several op-ed pieces praised King Abdullah (not surprisingly) 
for his wisdom and candor.  Arabic daily Al-Rai's political 
editor, for example, commended the King for his "practical, 
precise and forthright" analysis on the problems plaguing 
Islam and for reminding Muslims "that we ... have fallen 
short of fulfilling our duty to our faith and ourselves." 
Conference participants (some of whom are scheduled to appear 
on Jordan TV to promote moderate Islam) have also issued 
positive statements to local reporters.  Saudi national 
Abdulaziz Altwaijri, Director General of the Islamic 
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) 
told reporters that his institution "fully supports the 
content of the Amman Message," and called for integrating its 
principles in school curricula in Islamic countries. 
 
4.  (C) COMMENT:  The King's remarks centered on the major 
goals that Jordan has for this conference (ref A): defining 
who is qualified to issue a fatwa, denouncing attempts to 
declare Muslims who practice the five pillars of Islam to be 
apostates, and rejecting violence and terror in the name of 
Islam.  The strong turnout by Shia clerics and scholars 
should help in extending the reach of the conference (and the 
Amman Message) throughout the Islamic world.  Work on a final 
conference communiqu is still continuing; post will forward 
a copy to Washington once we have received it.  Charge will 
follow up with King Abdullah and Prince Ghazi (ref A) for 
further information, including interaction between Iraqi 
Sunni and Shia representatives.  END COMMENT. 
HALE