VZCZCXRO3915
RR RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVI #1102 1041459
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141459Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3116
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS VIENNA 001102 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EUR/AGS, EUR/PGI, EUR/ERA AND DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KISL EUN AU
SUBJECT: European Imams Meet in Vienna April 7-9 
 
 
THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Some 130 European Islamic leaders and 
Islam experts from more than 40 countries attended an 
April 7-9 conference of European imams in Vienna.  The 
agenda focused on integration of Muslims into European 
societies, education, politics, women's rights, and the 
Mohammed cartoon debate earlier this year.  Chancellor 
Schuessel noted that Austria's partnership model for 
diverse religious groups could be "an export article." 
Critics attacked the conference as a "showcase," however, 
saying it did not address real problems.  A spokesman of 
the Shiite centers and mosques in Europe also complained 
that Shiite imams had not been "seriously invited."  End 
Summary. 
 
The Conference 
-------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) On April 7-9, Vienna was the venue for a 
conference of approximately 130 European Islamic leaders 
and Islam experts from more than 40 countries. 
Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, Parliamentary President 
Andreas Khol, Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, and EU 
Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner attended the opening. 
DCM represented Embassy Vienna.  The Austrian Islamic 
Community (IGG), in cooperation with the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs, the City of Vienna, and the European 
Islamic Conference, organized and hosted the conference. 
The meeting was a follow-up to the 2003 Graz conference 
of European imams. 
 
Integration 
----------- 
 
¶3.  (U) Participants said learning the host country's 
language and culture was essential, and urged Europe's 
Muslims and their religious leaders to take part in all 
aspects of society.  IGG representatives and GOA 
officials stressed the need to foster integration by 
participation, especially by imams, in the host 
societies.  The imams emphasized the need for dialogue 
and cooperation to achieve better understanding between 
cultures and religions.  They called upon themselves to 
play stronger roles in helping their communities 
integrate into society.  British Muslim representatives 
emphasized the need for training of imams, including a 
course on the political and legal system of the country 
in which they were teaching. 
 
Euro-Islam 
---------- 
 
¶4. (U) A Vienna Islamic Religious Pedagogic Academy 
professor underscored that European Islam is "authentic," 
but can be distinguished from the Islam of the Muslim 
immigrants' home countries.  For this purpose, he said, 
top Islamic experts should undertake a new exegesis of 
Islamic norms. 
 
Cartoon Debate 
-------------- 
 
¶5. (U) Regarding the recent Mohammed cartoon controversy, 
EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner underlined the importance 
of both freedom of religion and freedom of opinion. 
Ferrero-Waldner noted that the reaction to the Danish 
cartoons was the result of a series of misunderstandings. 
This theme also figured in the final statement the 
conference adopted.  Many imams denounced the violent 
protests, as well as the media's focus on violence in 
Islam.  Some conference participants called for an EU law 
banning acts offending religious feelings. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) COMMENT: Critics of the conference, among them 
an Austrian Muslim group outside the IGG, attacked the 
"showcase" character of the conference, saying the 
conference did not address real problems.  Shiites, who 
constitute at least 30 percent of European Muslims, said 
they felt left out.  A spokesman of the Shiite centers 
and mosques in Europe claimed that organizers had not 
"seriously invited" Shiite imams. 
 
McCAW