The role of religion in conflict
A message from Canon Andrew White, Chief Executive of the Foundation for Reconciliation in the Middle East
Dear Friends,
Greetings from Spain. I am just departing here to return to Jerusalem via London. The Rabbis and Imams conference was not positive. Despite there being 350+ people present many of whom I knew the programme and organization was probably the worst I have ever experienced. Despite the difficulties the fact that I was able to meet with so many people was positive. Many of our Gaza colleagues were present including Imad Fuluji who heads up the Adam Centre in Gaza. I hope to see him in Gaza this weekend.
What was obvious in discussion with the Islamic leaders was that there are really only two subjects on their Agenda, Palestine and Iraq. These are the main issues we are trying to deal with. The Islamic delegation came from all around the world yet their concerns were the same. In discussions with both the Islamic and Jewish delegates it became clear that both felt that the issue of religion and its role in conflict and conflict resolution is not taken seriously enough by the international governmental community. On this point I totally agree with them.
Yesterday was the third anniversary of the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A difficult day and one of great concern and discussion. Was it right to go to war against the regime of Saddam Hussein? I would still say yes! Despite the chaos that has followed. President Bush’s speech in Cleevdon, Ohio and the speech by the British minister of defence were both good but I feel there has been a failure to admit to the major mistakes that were made after the war. Saddam’s regime was the ultimate in evil, I was there before the war, I saw the evil, mayhem, carnage and death but we have got to agree that what we have now is total and utter carnage. There is major disagreement between President Talibani and the former PM Ayad Allawi as to whether what we have now is civil war Talibani says no, Allawi yes. What is obvious is that scores of people are killed each day and it is Sunni verses Shia and vice a versa. Things are bad. Very bad and we as a coalition have to take some of the blame. We left the boarders open too long, dismissed all the Iraqi security services and handed over to Iraqi control too soon.
I am rather concerned about recent media, especially Christian media who keep saying the war was all about oil and the dollar. It was not and you do not need to be in Iraq very long to realise that. To reduce the war to macro-economics or Geo-petroleum issues is not only wrong but very dangerous strategy. The war was not about the dollar or oil. The coalition did know what it was dealing with when it went to war. Yes some of the intelligence may have been wrong but the war was not.
What’s more there has been a total refusal to take seriously the religious dimensions of the conflict. This I feel is more significant than any other issue. There is the belief and that getting security right will change the situation. I am afraid I do not agree. I fear that it is only by taking seriously the inter-religious issues that we can move forward. I will never forget the letter from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office just after the war saying we must first sought out the water and electricity issues then and only then can we deal with religion. Fortunately Sir Jeremy Greenstock the British representative to the CPA and Christopher Seagar the first British head of mission and now our Chairman did not see things like this. They helped us deal with the religious issues from the very beginning. They came with us to the religious leaders, gave us the funding to do our work and enabled us to do what now is not possible. Since they left in 2004 we have not had the funding to do our work. Water and electricity are still not saughted out. Our inter religious work started with such hope and promise, but now it is almost no more the Iraqi Institute of Peace still functions thanks to the support of USIP but we seriously need to increase our work in Iraq.
Both Iraq’s Prime Minister and the NSA Dr Mowaffak Al Rubbaie, whom I admire and respect want us to do more. At the moment we don’t have the funding, though we and the US DOD are very much looking for it. If it is found we can then establish the Prime Minister’s Inter Religious Council. We can then begin to deal with some of the very real issues that are now facing Iraq, resulting in the Chaos and Carnage that are now all too familiar.
Sadly this important work can no longer be carried out in Iraq, it is simply too dangerous, we need to take the key religious leaders out of the country and deal with these issues. I am pleased to say that even Lord Carey is willing to help in this matter and be present at such a gathering. Results though will not be achieved just by one meeting, it will take several but we could see a real change.
Yesterday was the start of the major Shia festival of Arba’in in Karballa, Iraq. I sat talking with some Shia Sayeds talking about this great event, today the Al Adala newspaper in Iraq Published a very interesting article by it Editor Ali Khalif, in part it read:
“Millions of Iraqi pilgrims continue heading to the city of Karballa to commemorate the Arba’in occasion, the pilgrimage is larger than in the previous three years, These crowds of people want to show that they are still committed to Imam Al-Hussein’s principles of freedom, justice and equality. Terrorists will not be able to disrupt the progress toward freedom in the past enemies of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH targeted believers and their families by killing and deporting them. Today the same enemies continue to kill and deport Shiites. But these crowds of pilgrims humiliate terrorists and Saddamists. Moreover the pilgrimage has shamed those who call for the return of the former regime. These millions of people have challenged criminals and terrorists and takfiris. They will be completely destroyed by the determination of the people and their adherence to principles, constitution and accomplishments”
This article shows the determination of the Iraqi people but at the same time demonstrates the religious nature of the conflict. Iraqis of different religious persuasion have and can live together in peace, but we need to deal with these inter religious issues urgently. Only by doing so can we deal with the present mayhem. To avoid the inter religious issues is not only highly dangerous but it demonstrates the huge lack of understanding of most western Governments. Iraq whether you like it or not is a highly religious society and improved security alone will not change this present crisis.
So I am about to return to Jerusalem another place that we continue to try and work in and help. This weekend will be spent in Gaza and after the Israeli election and the formation of the new Government we will continue our efforts there. I am sorry if this update is a little longer than usual but I felt it important that on this anniversary I shared some of our present thoughts about Iraq.
Several people have continued to ask about voting for my book. Votes can be accepted up to the 1st April and the following the address to vote on www.christianbookawards.org.uk
Blessings,
Andrew White
