US embassy cable - 02AMMAN6523

UNCLAS AMMAN 006523 
 
SIPDIS 
 
IIP/G/NEA; NEA/PPD (CBOURGEOIS, DMACINNES, JGAFFNEY); 
ECA/A/E/USS; NEA/ARN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, OEXC, SCUL, JO 
SUBJECT:  REQUEST FOR DVC ON "ISLAM IN A MULTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY" 
 
1. SUMMARY: PAS AMMAN REQUESTS IIP SUPPORT IN RECRUITING AN 
AMERICAN EXPERT FOR AN ARABIC LANGUAGE 90 MINUTE DVC PROGRAM 
ON "CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND ISLAM."  THE PROGRAM WOULD BE 
CONDUCTED DURING THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN.  OUR AUDIENCE 
WOULD INCLUDE STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS FROM ISLAMIC SHARIA 
SCHOOLS AT JORDANIAN UNIVERSITIES, INCLUDING RECENTLY 
RETURNED IV PARTICIPANTS, MEMBERS OF THE ISLAMIC THOUGHT 
CENTER AND THE CENTER FOR INTERFAITH STUDIES.  WE WOULD 
PREFER TO HOLD THIS PROGRAM ON NOVEMBER 20 OR NOVEMBER 25 AT 
1730 GMT. 
 
2. GIVEN THE SENSITIVITIES AND THE POLITICAL TENSIONS IN THE 
REGION, WE ASK THAT PROGRAM FOCUS ON CULTURAL DIVERSITY, 
COEXISTENCE, RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IN THE U.S. AND THE 
MISCONCEPTIONS THAT HAVE RISEN IN THE ARAB WORK ON THE U.S. 
VIEWS OF ISLAM AND MUSLIMS, PARTICULARLY AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 
11.  THE SPEAKER SHOULD FOCUS ON THE ROLE MUSLIMS PLAYS IN 
THE U.S. SOCIETY, POLITICALLY, SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY. 
 
3.  THE AMERICAN PARTICIPANT SHOULD SPEAK ARABIC AND BE AN 
EXPERT ON ISLAM.  WE RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING POSSIBLE 
SPEAKERS:  IMAM YAHYA HENDI, MUSLIM CHAPLAIN AT GEORGETOWN 
UNIVERSITY; DR. KHALID YEHIA BLANSKHIP, A SCHOLAR AT THE 
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH; MS. SHARIFA AL KHATIB, FOUNDER AND VICE 
PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR MUSLIM WOMEN. 
 
4.  WE REQUEST THAT THE SPEAKER MAKE A 20 MINUTE 
PRESENTATION, THEN TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE. 
 
5.  CONTROL OFFICER FOR THIS PROGRAM IS CAO DONNA WINTON, 
TEL: 962-6-5920101, EXT. 2115; FAX; 962-6-5920121.  PLEASE 
ADVISE. 
GNEHM