An extraordinary meeting

Leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries met in Saudi Arabia last week for an event billed as "The Third Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference". The title was quite a mouthful and it failed to set the western media alight with excitement, but the event itself was extraordinary in every sense of the word.

Speaker after speaker acknowledged that the Muslim world is beset with challenges on an ever-widening range of issues. It is suffering from a deep-seated social, economic and religious malaise with which it has so far proved incapable of dealing. In the words of the summit's final communique: "The Islamic nation is in a crisis".

Such thoughts are not new, but to hear the confessions of failure expressed with such frankness, by the very people who have been presiding over the mess - and broadcast to millions around the Muslim world - was little short of revolutionary. Equally extraordinary was the fact that these discussions took place in Saudi Arabia - home to some of the world's most reactionary Muslim clerics - at the behest of the Saudi king.

The outcome was a 10-year plan that amounts to nothing less than an attempt to modernise Islam or, as one of the conference papers put it, to "revamp existing mindsets".

snip

http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,1665471,00%20.html

Extraordinary article, extraordinary event.

Will say that the War forced them to "modernize" and change their evil ways

leads to some positive reforms, I wouldn't even mind (TOO much) if he did take credit - there's just so much at sake here.

I am so glad that thoughtful, intelligent and moderate people are discussing these issues openly - especially in Saudi Arabia, where the Wahabi are so powerful. It's great.

It appears that the Saudi regime is finally fighting back against the Wahabis, and as much as I despise Bush, it may just be that the Bush family-Saudi regime relationship, so often maligned, is at least a part of what led to this. Impossible to say for sure. I hope he *doesn't* claim responsibility, because we are so hated in that part of the world at this point, because of his actions in Iraq, that such a comment could torpedo the possible forward steps from ever occuring.

The war is a completely different issue, imho.

This is what has been needed for a long time: an effort to allow the moderates to speak and to strenghten their hand. We in the West so often tend to see Islam only through the very distorted prism of the acts of terrorism, which only a small minority are actually involved in.

This was especially good:
With the issue of terrorism in mind, the panel on Islamic thought attacked "reckless fatwas by people who were not qualified to speak in the name of Islam" and stressed the need "to establish a moderate Islamic discourse which is bound to time, place and circumstances and one that is explained in contemporary language". Educational curriculums should be revised in the light of this, the experts added.

Recognising that the rights of women are "clearly espoused in Islam", the experts called for "an effective strategy for the integration of women in society".

In response to the intolerant bigots who claim that their version of Islam is the only correct one, they argued that multiple schools of thought "reflect the rich nature of Islamic thought" and called for dialogue with other religions to redress "the existing lack of mutual understanding among cultures and civilisations".

During the conference itself, there was also a good deal of interest in a suggestion by the prime minister of Malaysia that Hadhari ("civilisational") Islam could offer a way forward. This concept - which focuses on economic and technological development, social justice and religious tolerance within an Islamic framework - has been actively promoted by the Malaysian government as a way of countering extremism.

I also am excited by the Malaysian prime minister's idea.

As far as Bush is concerned, it isn't impossible that, as you say, his personal relationship with the Sauds might be having an effect.

Though I hate to admit it:)

I think it's more than that though. I think moderates and progressives within Islam are standing up for what they believe, and that's awesome.

I hope they make steady, solid progress on this.

'Final Communique of the Third OIC Summit

2005 Public Statement

Final Communique of the Third Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, “Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century, Solidarity in Action,” Makkah Al-Mukarramah,5-6 Dhul Qa’adah 1426H, December 7-8, 2005

In response to the kind invitation addressed from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to his brothers and sister, the leaders of the Muslim Ummah, the Third Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference was held in Makkah Al Mukarramah on 5-6 Dhul Qa’adah 1426 H (7-8 December 2005).


The Summit Conference was inaugurated by recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an. Then the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz, delivered a speech in which he stressed that a strong Muslim believer in his Lord does not despair in God’s mercy and that Islamic unity will never be realized through the shedding of blood as misguided deviants assume. Extremism, fanaticism and excommunication will not take root in a land endowed with the spirit of tolerance and the dissemination of moderation. He affirmed his aspiration to the rise of a unified Islamic Ummah; a rule that eradicates injustice and oppression; comprehensive Islamic development targeting the removal of destitution and poverty; the spread of reason and moderation that characterize the tolerance of Islam; Muslim inventors and industrialists; an advanced Islamic technology; and to a Muslim youth who equally works for this life and the hereafter.

>snip

II-In the Political Field

The Conference stressed the importance of the question of Palestine as the central cause of the Muslim Ummah. The ending of the Israeli occupation of the Arab and Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, the Syrian Golan and the remaining occupied Lebanese territories in compliance with Security Council Resolution 425, constitutes a vital request for the entire Muslim Ummah. This question should unify the Muslim position regarding the comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine in accordance with the United Nations resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Roadmap. Efforts should be made to regain the city of Al-Quds, safeguard its Islamic and historical character, preserve and protect Al-Aqsa Mosque and other sacred sites, counter the judaization of the Holy City, support the Palestinian institutions in the city, and establish Al-Aqsa University in the city of Al-Quds. It Conference called for support to the Waqf of Al-Quds Fund with each Muslim individual contributing one dollar, besides contributions by Member States in order to preserve the holy sites in the city of Al-Quds, including in particular Al-Aqsa Mosque, safeguard the sacred city’s cultural and historic landmarks and Arab-Islamic identity, and strengthen the steadfastness of its population so that it may regain its character as a city of coexistence and tolerance and the capital of the State of Palestine. The Conference reiterated working hand in hand with the international community to cease and dismantle settlements in the occupied territories. It also called for a halt in the building of the Separation Wall and its demolition in accordance with the Opinion of the International Court of Justice.'

http://www.saudiembassy.net/2005News/Statements/StateDetail.asp?cIndex=568

"The Conference stressed the importance of the question of Palestine as the central cause of the Muslim Ummah. The ending of the Israeli occupation of the Arab and Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, the Syrian Golan and the remaining occupied Lebanese territories in compliance with Security Council Resolution 425, constitutes a vital request for the entire Muslim Ummah." I guess they didn't get the message that there are no remaining occupied Lebanese territories according to the UN.

significance to the Moslem world, as the city contains their holy sites, as well as those of the Jews. This seems to be an often-overlooked fact.

I personally think that an internationally-administered city, as envisioned originally, may be the only way to solve this problem. I'm not deeply married to the view, but see it as perhaps the only to resolve the current dilemma. If the parties could find an equitable way to solve the problem on their own, such a solution would not be necessary.