This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000418 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2016 
TAGS: SOCI PGOV KISL PTER QA
SUBJECT: ISLAMIC LEADERS DESCRIBE QATAR'S MODERATION 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Chase Untermeyer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary. Prominent Islamic scholars describe a 
prevailing state of tolerance in Qatar. While fundamentalist 
tendencies exist, followers are not hostile to other members 
of society. According to these Islamic leaders, the Qatari 
government's policy of promoting religious moderation has had 
an impact. The large Faculty of Islamic Studies at Qatar 
University is undergoing liberal reforms. Two somewhat 
conservative Islamic scholars welcomed meetings with P/E 
chief and argued that the U.S. must take steps to avert a 
clash between Muslim and Western extremists and to improve 
its image in the region through dialogue. End Summary. 
 
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Islamic Studies at Qatar University 
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¶2. (C) Dr. Aisha al-Mannai, dean of the Faculty of Islamic 
Studies at Qatar University, described an academic 
environment in which differing views are tolerated and 
accepted. As proof, she said that she, as a woman, is 
respected as dean by all her students, even the more 
conservative ones. The dean said there is no tension in the 
student body. Though there are some Salafis, with their own 
conservative views, they keep it personal. Qatar is small and 
radical ideas do not permeate, the dean said. 
 
¶3. (U) The faculty separated from the Faculty of Law last 
year, an important change that means the Islamic Studies 
faculty trains religious scholars rather than judges. This 
allows the legal curriculum to develop in civil, commercial, 
and other fields not addressed by Sharia Law. The dean said 
that the Faculty of Islamic Studies consists of three tracks: 
Usoul al-Deen (study of the Koran and hadith), Islamic 
Jurisprudence (philosophy of commenting on religion), and 
Dawa (propagation of Islam) and Islamic Culture. Degrees are 
awarded in the first two tracks. There are plans for a third 
degree incorporating media classes into Dawa. The Islamic 
Studies faculty trains 600 students, 70% of whom are female. 
 
¶4. (U) Islamic Studies graduates can look for jobs in Awqaf, 
Islamic banking, Ministry of Justice, and teaching. Most are 
in fact interested in working after leaving the university. 
The faculty will try to help students get necessary 
qualifications, such as financial or teaching skills, the 
dean said. 
 
¶5. (C) Dr. al-Mannai emphasized the tone of moderation in her 
department. Thirty percent of teaching is or will be in 
English, she said, in part to accommodate non-native Arabic 
speaking students and in recognition of the fact that 
propagation of Islam occurs largely outside the Arab region. 
She is revamping teaching methods to make them more modern; 
she said students will no longer just listen to lectures and 
"fall asleep." The dean described an open academic 
philosophy: You must seek knowledge from all sources 
including non-Muslims; you must be dedicated to your field of 
expertise wisdom seek from those who have it. 
 
¶6. (C) P/E Chief asked the degree to which Islamic teachings 
could be reinterpreted. Al-Mannai replied that it is 
permitted to take a "second look" at hadith and teachings. 
For example, she believes Islam permits women to work, 
whereas some still say they should remain at home and cannot 
be presidents or members of parliament. She said her 
professors exercise academic freedom but they have regular 
dialogue amongst themselves. 
 
¶7. (C) Al-Mannai interpreted the term "Wahhabism" as 
describing a fairly intolerant movement. In addition to its 
historical context, it is a religious view that allows 
Muslims to oppose other Muslims whom they do not see as being 
correct enough. Some religious leaders accept this idea, she 
said, but it's not a state policy. She would not describe 
herself as Wahhabi. 
 
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Prominent Professor: Preachers in Qatar are Moderate 
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¶8. (C) P/E Chief met with Islam Online Vice Chairman and 
Qatar University professor Dr. Ali Mohi al-Din al-Quradaghi 
in February 2006. He was welcoming and engaging. Quradaghi is 
an aide and intellectual deputy of prominent Sunni cleric 
Yousef al-Qaradawi. Quradaghi, who studied at Al-Azhar 
University in Cairo and later wrote a doctoral dissertation 
comparing contract law in Roman, Islamic, and other legal 
systems at Ain Shams University, said he has worked with 
Qaradawi for 30 years and implied that there is no difference 
between their views. 
 
¶9. (C) Islam is open to other civilizations and cultures, 
Quradaghi said. Qaradawi and other imams in Qatar are 
moderate. Their teachings have an impact; this is why Qatar 
is tolerant. Quradaghi said that Qaradawi advised inquirers 
not to go to Iraq for Jihad, for example, and that it is 
correct to greet non-Muslims, contrary to some reactionary 
views. 
 
¶10. (C) Quradaghi argued with concern that there is a great 
need to avoid a clash with the West that would only "benefit 
the extremists on both sides." He feared events were leading 
the West and Islamic countries in that direction. 
 
¶11. (C) Quradaghi proved to be more logical and less 
contradictory in his statements than his prominent mentor. He 
conveyed the view that the idea of "takfir" -- a Muslim 
stating that another is not true to the faith -- sprang out 
of the repression of Egyptian prisons. (Note. We understand 
this view of history is shared by the Muslim Brotherhood. End 
Note.) Add in Western policies in the Middle East and Arab 
dictatorships, and the dangerous terrorist threat is the 
result. Quradaghi is also more capable of criticizing Arab 
governments and society and believes Arabs should be more 
critical of themselves. He recounted (on another occasion) 
his shock that Arabs refused to believe that Saddam Hussein 
attacked the citizens of Halabja with poison gas in 1988. 
Note. Quradaghi is a Kurd. End Note. 
 
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Salafi Preacher: America Needs to Engage Muslims 
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¶12. (C) Abdel Salam Bassiouni, an Egyptian scholar and Imam 
of the Abu Bakr mosque in Doha, is known as a Salafi 
preacher, yet he warmly welcomed a meeting with P/E Chief. He 
said Americans must engage Muslims in the Middle East and not 
rely on stereotypes. At a minimum, the two sides will get to 
know each other based on facts; perhaps they will find "good 
things" about the other and develop mutual respect. 
 
¶13. (C) America, he said, has many great characteristics, 
such as education and culture. But its reputation has been 
hurt and misunderstandings have developed. America needs to 
do more to fix the situation. 
 
¶14. (C) Bassiouni said he "loves" Qatar because it is 
peaceful and open. Not only do the Amir and senior leadership 
have an open outlook, he said, but the people do, too. 
Education is the key to openness. If one reads, one will get 
to know and accept other cultures. He compared Qatar 
favorably with Saudi Arabia, where he said the "bedouin" 
mindset has resulted in less education and reading about 
other cultures. 
 
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Comment 
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¶15. (C) Opinions in Qatar, whether on politics, religion, or 
social issues, tend to gravitate toward a certain accepted 
line. The clear message from Qatar is that it is religiously 
tolerant. This message is borne out by certain observations: 
Qataris have, by and large, accepted certain social changes 
such as the role of women leaders; they accept foreigners to 
live, dress, and worship pretty much as they please; and 
there is no discernable Sunni-Shia strife (Shia make up about 
10% of the population). There are some rumblings of 
discontent, but these are of minor significance as most 
Qataris enjoy their growing prosperity. 
UNTERMEYER