Dr. Jamal Sanad Al Suwaidi: There is no option other than supporting moderate Arab-Islamic culture to counter extremism

Abu Dhabi, May 28, 2013 (WAM) - The Arab-Islamic culture of moderation is in a real crisis amid the flood of ideological militancy and extremism,'' Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi, Director General of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), said. ''There is no way out or alternative but to support and enhance this culture of moderation, not only so that our Arab and Islamic nations can overcome these difficult historical circumstances, but also in order to protect future generations from the spread of militancy and extremist ideology delivered through preaching platforms and media outlets, or through education curricula that are influenced by such groups in a number of countries in accordance with their wishes and ideologies, he told the opening session of a conference on The Future of Arab-Islamic Culture . He stated: "In recent years, the Arab region has witnessed obvious and significant political transformations, the result of which has been that religious groups and movements stand at the forefront of politics in several countries. It stands to reason that such shifts have specific implications and consequences worthy of close research and study, particularly in light of Islam itself becoming a subject of escalating political argument and controversy in conflicts that will undoubtedly yield adverse consequences. ''Such consequences will not be limited to the stability of Arab communities in the current moment, but may also spread to affect the image of Islam that has prevailed for centuries, namely its unique characteristics of tolerance and acceptance of others." He added: "Observance of the vast overlap between religion and politics in the daily practices of certain Islamic groups and movements shows the systematic distortion of Islam through the adoption of slogans and media coverage, ostensibly to defend religion. However, their essence and goals are political and aim for authority, power and influence by exploiting certain religious perceptions that utilise the innate tendency of Arab people towards religiosity, in order to fulfil their aims and act as a tool to pursue their goals. ''This puts us in stark contrast between true Islam, which calls for moderation, and politics with all its violations and confusion. As a result, many Arabs have focused on the ongoing conflicts between religion and politics. Such conflicts are mainly focused on the identity of countries that have always been Islamic. Conflicts have also been between Islamic movements and their opponents, as well as more severe conflicts between the very Islamic movements themselves. ''In the midst of this absurd situation, religion is distorted and sound political behaviour is absent. Thus, we are all plunged into the so-called re-reading of the past and a loss of any current perspective on reality due to numerous developmental challenges and obstacles, resulting in millions of ordinary Arabs paying the price for decades." Dr. Al-Suwaidi observed: "The Arab-Islamic culture of moderation is in a real crisis amid this flood of ideological militancy and extremism. There is no way out or alternative but to support and enhance this culture of moderation, not only so that our Arab and Islamic nations can overcome these difficult historical circumstances, but also in order to protect future generations from the spread of militancy and extremist ideology delivered through preaching platforms and media outlets, or through education curricula that are influenced by such groups in a number of countries in accordance with their wishes and ideologies. Therefore, we see that the Arab world is in a dilemma, which some movements and groups try to justify and interpret in a historical and religious context. This engulfs us in a permanent separation from reality and leads us to be swallowed up in intellectual alienation and doctrinal debate at a time when we seem to be in desperate need of informed insights and innovative ideas instead of wasting our time discussing issues that Sharia had already resolved centuries ago. It also leads us to struggle against a close-minded religious discourse that paralyses the potential of our youth, closes the window of hope and throws the destiny of the Arab world into the abyss." The Director General of the ECSSR stressed: "Arab countries are facing a number of problems and challenges and need to pursue a developmental path that strikes a balance between material gain, spirituality and the preservation of cultural identity. Holding to moderate Islam is certainly the only way to achieve this balance without falling into the traps of excess, negligence, extremism or violence. The proper understanding of Islam will rid the Arab and Islamic world of its deterioration, release its intellectual and creative potentials, and fortify societies against extremism. Since its inception, Islam has established very important social principles such as pluralism and freedom of faith, stressing its unique moderation, which was rightly described by Islamic scholars as a truth amid falsehoods, and justice amid injustices." He added: "We fully trust that moderate Islamic culture is immune from, and capable of, defeating fundamentalism, extremism and all attempts at hijacking of Islam by those claiming its exclusive representation, whether in terms of interpretation or promotion. This trust stems to a large extent from the existence of well-established religious institutions which protect moderate Islamic culture, preserve the true identity of Islam, and aim to spread it worldwide. The most prominent of these institutions is Al Azhar, the biggest religious institution in the Arab and Islamic world. It is an edifice of intellectualism, scholarship and jurisprudence headed by Dr. Ahmad Al Tayeb, who is facing strong, seemingly religious campaigns that merely desire worldly gains by targeting his symbolic representation of a moderate culture in the face of closed-mindedness and extremism. "We are aware that the only way to support the interests of Arab countries and peoples is to establish a moderate model of Islam based on co-existence, mutual acceptance, and rejection of prejudice and the temptation of power and domination over other citizens. Likewise, we believe that the Islamic civilisation is based on its values and principles as well as its moderate nature, which has remained for centuries the cornerstone for maintaining the security and stability of Arab and Islamic societies." He concluded by saying: "Our aim in this conference is not to criticise practices that have been rejected by Islamic societies. Rather, our goal is to provide a driving force for the efforts aimed at developing the Arab nation on the basis of sound Islamic thought and introducing the true image of Islam, thereby replacing its image presented by some groups as a closed, fanatical religion that rejects the other. We also aim to arrive at the truth through a moderate intellectual approach free of scornful perspectives. "Finally, I trust that the experts and specialists participating in this conference will contribute to enriching the discussions about the future of Arab-Islamic culture. Once again, I welcome you to the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, and wish you every success in achieving the aims of this conference." The two-day conference will deliberate on Analytical View of the General Currents in Islamic Thought, Islamic Thought and the Arab Renaissance Movement', Movements in Contemporary Islamic Political Thought: The Muslim Brotherhood . The Closing Discussion Panel will tackle Experiences of Political Islam in Power: Visions and Ideas. – Emirates News Agency, WAM