Agenda
Imam Bashar Arafat's visit to CERMAM on 20th October 2006
Imam Arafat, who has lived in America for more than 20 years, was invited by CERMAM while he was touring the world seeking dialogue with the figures and adepts of Islam, and trying to make known what it is like to be a Muslim in the USA. He joked that his expenses were taken care of by the American government, but that his points of view are his own. It is worth noting that a delegation from the embassy was with him while he gave his talk at CERMAM.
His aim was this: in a time of war in the Middle-East, the United States wants to show the world that its Muslim population is not labelled as terrorists by its fellow Americans and that they are integrating well. The imam insisted on the fact that America was opening up, seeking dialogue and looking to build bridges between the world's different religions.
He added that radicalisation was not the norm among young Americans. Radicalisation is the consequence of a spiritual quest, unfulfilled by Occident, among young people willing to understand how life was for their parents in their fatherland. There is a big inadequacy between the superficial modern world and these young people's desire for moral elevation. The latter explains the resurgence of scarves (especially among the recently converted women who wish to make a religious statement), and a heightened interest for speeches and preaches made by imams from Arab countries. However, Imam Arafat insisted that these imams from Arab countries preach interfaith tolerance and an Islam that reflects the evolution of society. Imam Arafat told us that Mahomet was a man of changes, either provoking them, or swift to adapt to them.
Our guest insisted that, in America, Muslims have a particular status as compared to the one they have in the rest of the West. Whoever pays taxes in the USA feels just as American as any other person who does, whatever their religion might be. Immigration has brought diversification to the United States and as a consequence, people remain very attached to their origins. According to M. Arafat, despite this, the Muslim community does not suffer from an identity withdrawal.
Imam Arafat continued by saying that Muslims need to have access to literature that embodies moderate points of view, so that extremism doesn't become a standard for the Muslim population of America. He argued that it is important for Muslims from all around the world to be in touch with each other, because otherwise tolerance and acceptance will become utopian.
M. Arafat then discussed the link between religion and politics. According to him, both fields try to exist independently of each other, but they need to work in unison if they are to make their programs a success for the population.
Regarding religious doctrine, he added that a notable evolution has been noticed. A new Muslim doctrine has emerged from the United States. It brings together the preexisting schools of thought and mixes them. In M. Arafat's opinion, Islam is at the beginning of a reformation. When it touches Arab countries, he believes that its origins will be traced back to America, where the freedom of speech for imams is much greater. In some Arab countries an unorthodox interpretation of the sacred Texts may not only be prohibited, but also severely reprimanded.
As a final point, the Imam outlined the framework within which his trip to Switzerland was taking place. He also explained how the United States helps him with his trips and conferences. We thus learned that the current government has dispatched not just religious people around the world. They have also sent out artists, intellectuals and researchers to broadcast the American point of view. This was taking place in a broad program intended to show the world that the United States were opening up, and seeking dialogue. Being in the spotlight permanently, they are trying to show the world a side of their country that is often left in the shadows by the media: that of its religious minorities.
-- Marguerite Cornu
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- Origine CERMAM
- http://www.cermam.org/fr/logs/event/imam_bashar_arafats_visit_to_c/
- Publié le 23 janvier 2007