VERANSTALTUNGSBEITRAG Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V.

AUSLANDSBÜRO JORDANIEN “Assessing Recent Developments in the 22 nd April 2014 - Shedding Light on Intercultural Relations –“ FELICITAS WEILEDER IMKE HAASE DR. OTMAR OEHRING Event: Workshop

www.kas.de/amman th Date, Place: 30 March 2014; Le Meridien Hotel Amman, Jordan

Organization : Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Jordan Office (KAS), European Abrahamic Forum (EAF) Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies (RIFS)

Program:

Opening Remarks

Session I: The Arab Uprisings and Interreligious Relations in Jordan

Session II: Egypt: Christian-Muslim Relations after the “Second Revolu- tion” – from Coup D’Etat to the New Constitution

Session III: Lebanon in the Shadow of the Syrian Civil War

Session IV: Future Challenges and the Role of the West in Promoting Intercultural Dialogue

List of Participants:

H.E. Mr. Hasan Abu Nimah (on behalf of H.E. Michel Hamarneh) Senator Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies (RIIFS) Jordan Dr. Otmar Oehring Resident Representative Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Jordan Office Jordan Prof. Dr. Stefan Schreiner Senior-Professor of Comparative Study of Religious and Jewish Studies/University of Tübingen, Germany Member of the Board of the Foundation Zürcher Lehrhaus: Judentum, Christentum & Is- lam, Switzerland

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Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. Coordinator of the European Abrahamic Forum (EAF) Mr. Marwan Al Husaini AUSLANDSBÜRO JORDANIEN Media, Social Media, Online Technology and Conferences Specialist Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies (RIIFS) 22 nd April 2014 Jordan Mr. Ali Aslan FELICITAS WEILEDER Host of the international talk show “Quadriga” on Deutsche Welle TV IMKE HAASE Co-funder of the “German Islam Conference” DR. OTMAR OEHRING Germany Father Rif’at Bader Priest of the Latin (Roman Catholic) Patriarchate www.kas.de/amman Founder and General Director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media, Amman Jordan

Dr. Asiem El Difraoui Senior Fellow at the Institute for Media and Communication Policy Germany Prof. Dr. Wajih Kanso Lecturer for the master’s program on Christian-Islamic Relations at the Saint Joseph Uni- versity, Beirut Lebanon Dr. Naseef Naeem Consultant to the German Association for International Cooperation (GIZ) Germany Mrs. Djénane Kareh Tager Franco-Lebanese journalist and writer France Prof. Dr. Muhammad A. Sharkawi Professor of Islamic, Philosophy and Comparative Religion Cairo University Egypt

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Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. Introduction of the region, its populations and its relation AUSLANDSBÜRO JORDANIEN The political and socio-economic situation in to Europe is necessary to promote intercul- the Middle East are currently facing new tural dialogue which is a premise for peace nd 22 April 2014 challenges: the war in is increasing in the region but also between Europe and interreligious tensions in Lebanon; refugees the . FELICITAS WEILEDER fleeing from Syria are affecting the socio- IMKE HAASE economic situation in neighboring countries; DR. OTMAR OEHRING and the Coup D’Etat in Egypt against the On behalf of HE Michel Hamarneh, Director Muslim Brotherhood was further deepening of RIIFS and special advisor to HRH Prince tensions in the region. These factors have a Hasan Bin Talal H.E. Hasan Abu Nimah www.kas.de/amman significant impact on the situation of minori- welcomed and thanked all participants for ties and on intercultural relations in the their coming. He further thanked EAF and

Arab World. In this context, Konrad- KAS. RIFS was established in 1994 to sup- Adenauer-Stiftung Jordan Office (KAS), the port interreligious and intercultural dialogue European Abrahamic Forum (EAF) and the through worldwide conferences, meetings Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies (RIIFS) and an exchange of ideas, expertise and organized a workshop on 30 th of March 2014 knowledge. In this framework HE Abu Ni- in Amman, Jordan on the current intercul- mah stressed the importance of this work- tural and interreligious relations in the re- shop and wished all participants a fruitful gion. Around fifteen participants from discussion. Europe and the Levant discussed the chang- ing relations in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Germany.

Opening Remarks Dr. Otmar Oehring , Resident Representa- tive of KAS Jordan Office, welcomed all participants and thanked EAF and RIIFS for their efforts and commitment. He stressed that the Western world today tends to focus more on intercultural than on interreligious From left: Prof. Dr. Stefan Schreiner, Dr. Otmar Oehring, dialogue, as religion does not play such an HE Hasan Abu Nimah important role in the Western every day life anymore. In contrast, in the Middle East Session 1: The Arab Uprising and Inter- religion is still a significant factor in the religious Relations in Jordan political and social sphere which stresses the The Jordanian way of living together is often importance of the workshop. He emphasized referred to as the “model of Jordan” and a in this framework that the workshop should reason why Jordan is still described as a not discuss theological differences between “heaven” of stability. In this context, the the denominations, but the daily life which efforts of King Abullah II for furthering the is influenced by many misunderstandings dialogue were stressed which is one of the between different sects. reasons why the Arab Spring in Jordan led to a reform process, but not to a revolution. Prof. Dr. Schreiner , Coordinator of the EAF, welcomed all participants and thanked 4 percent of the Jordanian population is KAS Jordan Office and RIIFS for facilitating Christian, its community dates back to the the workshop. Prof. Schreiner emphasized Apostles and the first congregation and has, that the Middle East and especially Syria thus, always been a part of Jordan and the have not been the first priority in European region. The model for good relationship politics, even though proxy fights and the between Christians and Muslims goes back continuous influx of refugees not only in to the principle of good leadership which led countries neighboring Syria but also into to opportunities for Christians and promoted Europe. Therefore, a better understanding their presence in all fields, working together 4

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. with the Muslims for the benefit of the coun- million refugees from Syria which have led AUSLANDSBÜRO JORDANIEN try. Despite these positive relations, Chris- to significant challenges for Jordan in par- tians in Jordan are facing also challenges. In ticular with regard to the humanitarian crisis nd 22 April 2014 order to address these challenges a new and the related socio-economic problems, as terminology should be defined as the terms well as the security crisis, in case of a spill- FELICITAS WEILEDER tolerance and coexistence have a negative over of extremists fighters from Syria to IMKE HAASE connotation in . Also, instead of using Jordan. The Arab Spring in Jordan has DR. OTMAR OEHRING the terms ‘majority’ and ‘minority’ groups therefore rather been based on reforms should be addressed as ‘communities’. instead of an open uprising as in other Moreover, religious freedom needs to be countries of the region. www.kas.de/amman mentioned explicitly in the constitutions, as It was further emphasized that many gov- all Arab constitutions include freedom of ernments, including the Jordanian, spread

worship, but not freedom of religion. An- the propaganda that a country can either other challenge for Christians in Jordan is have reforms or stability but not both, which the lack of teaching on the Christian-Arabic led many people choose stability over de- heritage. Jordanian public school curricula, mocracy. Nevertheless, if the establishment for instance, do not mention the church, of a civil society would be supported and Christian Arabs or even a second religion strengthened the sensed imbalance between next to Islam. Just private schools include change and stability by people would de- these topics in their curricula which deepen crease. the gap between private and public schools. Therefore, the public curricula need to be amended to better teach young people Session 2: Egypt: Christian-Muslim Re- about respect for diversity. Participants lations after the “Second Revolution” – further referred to the Amman Messages, from Coup D’Etat to the New Constitu- issued in 2004, as a positive example for tion cooperation: the first Message was Chris- tian, stating that terrorism should not be At the beginning of the session it was high- connected to the Arab World, the second lighted that the revolution in Egypt started Message from 2005 was Muslim. The third with the hope to achieve democracy, en- Message thus, should be released as a compassing civil rights and citizenship. Christian-Muslim message condemning While the egyptian military was not able to violence, call for the release of the Christian fulfill these hopes it was stated that also the cleric hostages in Syria, and demand reli- government of Mohammad Mursi went along gious freedom. Finally, three priorities for a with some political mistakes. The Coup peaceful living together were pointed out: D’Etat against the Mursi Administration do not live along each other but together as however, worsened the situation and led to a community; create a result oriented inter- an elimination of the opposition, to torture religious dialogue; remind everyone that and killing members of the opposition and to religion and violence contradict each other. an exclusion of young people from political decisions. The recent death sentences against more than 500 members of the It was further stressed in this session that Muslim Brotherhood demonstrated the in- despite the hope of many Jordanians the justice of the judicial system. In this con- beginning of the Arab Spring, the uprisings text, it was pointed out that Egyptian Chris- also brought setbacks. The Jordan opposi- tians are not united in their standing to- tion, which is neither strong nor united, is wards the second revolution. Nevertheless, coinciding on two things: it does not call for while Christians played a very important a regime change and wants to maintain the role in the first revolution many promises security as well as stability of Jordan. In that had been made to them were not kept; addition, it was not the positive impact of under Mursi the situation between Muslim the events in Tunis that influenced the Jor- and Christian became even worse. Mainly danian ‘Spring’ but the approximately 1.3 due to Salafi and Jihadist propaganda, 5

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. Christians became a ‘hatred object’, with Session 3: Lebanon in the Shadow of AUSLANDSBÜRO JORDANIEN few counteractions through Mursi and the the Syrian Civil War Brotherhood. Also the security services nd 22 April 2014 failed to protect Christians which was sub- In this session, the impact of the Syrian sequently, used as propaganda against the crisis on the escalation of ethnic conflict in FELICITAS WEILEDER Mursi regime. As Copts always searched for Lebanon was examined. The exceptional IMKE HAASE protection through a strong ruler they were relationship between Syria and Lebanon was DR. OTMAR OEHRING - due to the lack of security under the re- highlighted which makes Lebanon highly gime - instrumental for the downfall of Mursi influenced by the Syrian crisis and ex- and the Brotherhood. This development tremely vulnerable to changes in the region. www.kas.de/amman consequently led to vicious hate campaigns This vulnerability is deepened due to the and the destruction of churches as well as to number of Lebanese parties that are in-

attacks and killings of Christians. Today volved in the war, especially Hezbollah. most Copts are supporting Al-Sisi but are Furthermore, the ethnic conflict is a result of rather co-opted and instrumentalist through the importance of the sect, the smallest the military which is, however, not to their entity in the Lebanese society, which is the advantage, as their status is still not stable. main characteristic of the Lebanese state. On the other side, however, since the Otto- Citizenship therefore depends only on the man Empire the Christian church has been belonging to one of the 18 existing sects in protected and acting independent through Lebanon which creates a conflict of loyalties, the ‘Millet-System’ which means that only between the loyalty to the sect on the one the Church leadership can represent the side and to the state on the other side. Also, Christians in Egypt. This system led to an the fact that the sect significantly shapes accumulation of power for the patriarchs but the basic identity of the Lebanese popula- not for the majority of Christians. Instead, tion prevents the formation of an effective rights for Christians on the grassroots level civil society which subsequently, contributes need to be applied. Despite all these chal- to the lack of effectiveness of the state. lenges, there is no possibility of a develop- Another crucial issue in Lebanon is the spe- ment or scenario in Egypt that could be cific type of leadership which can be de- similar to Sudan, as Christians, being part of scribed as a tribal leadership. Leaders in Egypt for a long time, will not seek to build Lebanon act therefore primary as defenders their own state. It was further emphasized of their particular sect. Moreover, Lebanon’s in this framework that the situation between vulnerability roots also in the fact that it is Muslims and Christian is also linked to the not an historic developed nation but rather political structure which negatively influ- an outcome of the fall of the Ottoman Em- ences interreligious relations. Religion is not pire and the Sykes-Picot-Agreement. used as a proxy for social problems, as Subsequently, the question was addressed Copts are both under the richest and the whether Syria’s war could also be seen as a poorest Egyptians, but as a proxy for politi- chance for Lebanon. The speaker stressed cal problems. Furthermore, as an identity that in most of the discussions only the crisis can be observed in the Middle East, negative effects of the crisis in Syria for religious identity seems to replace national Lebanon are mentioned but besides the identity in Egypt. This crisis was deepened unquestionable negative impacts of the through the tries of Mursi to create a pan- Syrian war, there might be also chances for Islamic identity; by Salafists to create a the Lebanese state on different levels. With Wahhabi identity; as well as by Mubarak regard to the security situation the clashes and Al-Sisi by recreating the pharaonic and car bombs are no new features and not identity and a ruler with unchecked powers. directly caused by the Syrian conflict. How- ever, the influence of the Lebanese army is significantly growing and it increasingly manages to get clashes more under control, a development which is new for Lebanon since a strong army has always been pro- 6

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. hibited by the Syrian state. This leads to a AUSLANDSBÜRO JORDANIEN greater sense of security among the Leba- nese population. Concerning the political nd 22 April 2014 situation in Lebanon discussions are as heated as before, yet there is also a differ- FELICITAS WEILEDER ence: Elections are going to be held in May IMKE HAASE 2014, with the struggling Syrian dictatorship DR. OTMAR OEHRING and far-reaching secret service, a real de- bate is expected. It was empha120 www.kas.de/amman sized that on the economic level the Syrian The participants of the seminar conflict and the large numbers of refugees

fleeing to Lebanon are indeed exacerbating Session 4: Future Challenges and the the already strained situation which subse- Role of the West in Promoting Intercul- quently, leads to increasing tensions be- tural Dialogue tween the Lebanese population and the Syrian refugees. Taking these considera- During the last session, Germany’s efforts to tions into account, the Syrian conflict can be strengthen a dialogue with the Islamic world seen as both: A curse and a chance for were analyzed. With the forum “Dialogue Lebanon. Finally, it was focused on possible with the Islamic World” Germany was the solutions of the interreligious part of the first Western country that launched an in- conflict in Syria. Three crucial factors and an tercultural dialogue with a political focus. internal/external distinction were intro- The introduction of a state promoted dia- duced: Firstly, the issue of majority in the logue followed a series of misunderstanding Syrian conflict: who holds the majority in and a rather narrow view on what is hap- Syria? While Sunnis think that they are the pening in this region. Four million Euros are majority in the country they do not try to invested in intercultural activities every efficiently represent themselves as a major- year, mainly in cooperation with German ity to the external. The same principle ap- foundations as the Goethe Institute or Ger- plies vice versa to the minorities of Syria; man political foundations. In a region where while they are aware of their status they do over one third of the inhabitants are under not define themselves externally as minori- 29, it is significantly important to reach this ties. The third factor is the influence of young generation and establish exchange. Islamists who use the lack of external co- As Germany itself is becoming more and herence of Sunnis and try to represent more diverse – 4 Million people are Muslims, themselves as the Sunni majority. More- most of them from a Turkish background – over, on the basis of the prior considera- it is of high importance to further promote tions three possible solutions were outlined: intercultural dialogue. It was stated that First, the majority should define themselves forums such as the ‘German Islamic Confer- externally as Sunnis and take responsibility. ence’ aim to take these new developments Second, Alawites should receive a guarantee into account and reflect a change of thinking for their right of existence in Syria and third, of political decision-makers in Germany. In the possibility of a division of Syria should this framework, the role of media in promot- be generally accepted. A division would tie ing intercultural dialogue was discussed. to the historical fact that Syria as a nation Using the example of Germany, broadcasts has no integrity, but resulted from an artifi- like ‘Deutsche Welle’ are presenting efforts cial division of the French mandate in 1925. to strengthen intercultural dialogue in Ger- The thereby resulting lack of identity in the many as well as abroad through media. Arab World was again mentioned in the However, at the same time, also in Ger- discussion as most countries were created in many media that is reinforcing mistrust can the aftermath of the fall of the Ottoman be found. It was further highlighted that Empire. As a result, these missing national dialogue is taking place on three levels: the identities are replaced by religious identities. political level, the religious level – mainly 7

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. between churches and the Muslim commu- AUSLANDSBÜRO JORDANIEN nity – as well as on the academic level. Participants remarked the parallel phenom- nd 22 April 2014 ena occurring in Germany and the Arab world; it was pointed out that questions FELICITAS WEILEDER about identity and citizenship in times of IMKE HAASE changes through migration are a main char- DR. OTMAR OEHRING acteristic in modern times and a global phenomenon. www.kas.de/amman Conclusion

At the end of the workshop participants pointed to the fruitful and lively discussion and the need to promote the topic of inter- cultural dialogue through an exchange of knowledge and ideas. The discussions made clear that the question of language and meaning in regard of intercultural relations is not yet fully developed. In order to create a common language and thus a common understanding appropriate terminology has to be promoted. Furthermore, participants agreed that the question of citizenship and belonging is a crucial point in discussion on intercultural and interreligious dialogue.