Dr. Majeda OMAR
Associate Professor, The University of Jordan
Former Director, Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies
Thank you, Ms. Warda, for your very enlightening reflection about the Iraqi situation. From your experience and knowledge, do you think that there have been missed opportunities, in the last decades, that could have changed the course of the events, or particular failed attempts? Is there any lesson learnt from this very intense period?
Hon. Pascale ISHO WARDA
Senior Fellow, Religion & Security Council
President, Hammurabi Human Rights Organization
Former Minister for Migration and the Displaced, Iraqi Interim Government
In such a chaotic situation, it is uneasy to distinguish the bad from the good, and to see the good side of things. In addition to what has been said, we must stress the fact that all these years of conflict and chaos have resulted in a huge destruction of infrastructures and systems. Any reconstruction, including a material one, will require much time. We need to rebuild with everyone’s help, not alone. What is sure is that rebuilding must be done in a democratic fashion.
Brig. Gen. (ITA Airforce) Davide RE
Director of the NATO Strategic Direction-South Hub,
Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Talking about international cooperation with Iraq, I would like to stress that NATO fully cooperates with Iraq. However, there is currently a difficulty in fully cooperating because of the institutional crisis Iraq has been going through for several months. The new parliament is still to be elected, for instance. My NATO colleagues involved in the educational training mission in Iraq need to interact closely with the Iraqi institutions and leaders. Institutional crises hamper the efficacy of cooperation, as well as the conditions for a brighter future in the country. Do you see any timeline to get institutions that can adequately welcome and manage international cooperation?
Hon. Pascale ISHO WARDA (Keynote Speaker)
Senior Fellow, Religion & Security Council
President, Hammurabi Human Rights Organization
Former Minister for Migration and the Displaced, Iraqi Interim Government
Yes, there is this possibility in some ministries, where there is readiness to change the mindset and be open for more international cooperation. This can be discussed with the authorities in charge.
Dr. Elie ABOUAOUN (Keynote Speaker)
Senior Fellow, Religion & Security Council
Director of North Africa Programs & MENA Hub, U.S. Institute of Peace
To answer the political dimension of the question, the timeline to form a government in Iraq depends on an intra Shi’a consensus, and so far the two main Shi’a coalitions did not come to an agreement about how to deal with it. The Iranians have the capacity technically to force solutions, but they have not done it yet. However, their priority is to make sure that the Shi’a do not come divided to the parliament, in order to have one Shi’a parliamentary block to rely on, as it has always happened until now. It is a strategic choice, in order to have more options to cope with the possible developments of the situation. Moreover, the Iranians are waiting for the outcome of Vienna discussions. Once these two elements are clear, then the Iranians might decide on a different course of action and somehow force solutions, in a cesarean style agreement. Therefore, it is very hard to predict the timeline now. However, as Hon. Warda said, the main constituents in any Iraqi government, with the exception of the Popular Mobilization Forces, would be in favor of partnerships with the international community, including NATO and other organizations to deal with counter-terrorism.
Dr. Michael Daniel DRIESSEN
Associate Professor, John Cabot University
Dr. Abouaoun, we have been talking about adopting an engagement approach with religious leaders, and so I was wondering how you see their engagement in the countries you addressed during your presentation. Maybe you can suggest practices of good engagement with religious leaders, as a way to respond to the culture of corruption that is widespread in the region.
Dr. Elie ABOUAOUN (Keynote Speaker)
Senior Fellow, Religion & Security Council
Director of North Africa Programs & MENA Hub, U.S. Institute of Peace
There are a lot of good religious leaders, who are trying within their own institutions to promote the culture of anticorruption. The problem is that the overall context is not allowing for these practices to be highlighted sufficiently enough for the public opinion to see them. Therefore, one particular line of effort could be to highlight the benefit that these practices can have on the population, since corruption is becoming kind of a social norm, not only in Lebanon but in Iraq, Tunisia and in other countries of the MENA region. People need to understand that with less corruption, they can also preserve their interests. There is a lack of evidence on how less corruption actually can be more beneficial to the population.
Mr. Andrin RAJ
Senior Fellow, Religion and Security Council
Director, Nordic Counter-Terrorism Network
I would like to highlight Dr. Abouaoun’s comments on the Middle East. The Scandinavian region has focused primarily on Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE), and Nordic policy-makers could play a primary role in supporting your work, especially because they promote and implement core values such as gender equality and youth inclusiveness, in addition to PVE.
Dr. Elie ABOUAOUN (Keynote Speaker)
Senior Fellow, Religion & Security Council
Director of North Africa Programs & MENA Hub, U.S. Institute of Peace
I thank you for this useful suggestion. I am aware that part of the thinking is not going in that direction. “Soft” approaches are very much needed to complement the “hard” ones, but are usually undervalued and the level of investment is not proportionate.
Dr. Elie AL HINDY
Executive Director, Adyan Foundation
Associate Professor, Notre Dame University-Louaize
As for Iraqi politics, how do you think that the passing of Ali Al Sistani and Ali Khamenei, two old major and influential leaders, will influence religion and politics in the country and the broader region? Do we know who might succeed them?
Dr. Elie ABOUAOUN (Keynote Speaker)
Senior Fellow, Religion & Security Council
Director of North Africa Programs & MENA Hub, U.S. Institute of Peace
The two cases are considerably different. In the case of Sistani, succession would involve intense discussions and bargaining between major and influential stakeholders in Najaf, which will influence the outcome of the succession. One should keep in mind, however, that Sistani’s position as Grand Marja’eyah does not exist formally. It has been “gained” by Sistani through time, thanks to the accumulation of moral capital which earned him the support of a great number of Shia. Nothing by law or in any religious text states that this position is the most influential one. We cannot talk thus of an institutional succession. After his death, one of the religious leaders currently in Najaf might actually become Sistani’s successor and play the same role he has been playing until today. However, it is hard to make predictions at this stage. What appears probable is that with Sistani’s death, there is a risk that the central role of Najaf will decline if another Grand Marja’eyah figure does not emerge.
In Iran, the situation is quite different. Khamenei’s position is completely institutionalized. It is probable that Khamenei has already chosen his successor. The question is whether the other elements of the regime will accept his choice. The most reliable information from Iran is that Raissi, the current president, has been the one identified by Khamenei as his successor. However, Raissi does not benefit from the same political capital and influence of Khamenei. Here, too, it is difficult to formulate predictions.
Dr. Ziad FAHED
Full Professor, Notre Dame University-Louaize
President, Dialogue for Life and Reconciliation
Coordinator, Sustainable Network of Religious Leaders in Tripoli and North Lebanon
I have a question for Dr. Abouaoun. You have mentioned the importance of reconciliation. I would like to know more about your view of reconciliation, and how you define and perceive it.
Dr. Elie ABOUAOUN (Keynote Speaker)
Senior Fellow, Religion & Security Council
Director of North Africa Programs & MENA Hub, U.S. Institute of Peace
I do not think that there is one single definition of reconciliation. What I will formulate is based on my personal practical experience. Reconciliation involves dealing with the past and laying the foundations for a sustainable peace in the future. In other words, it is a junction between acknowledging what happened in the past in terms of violence between two or more groups, and laying the foundations for a peaceful future. Should every reconciliation include elements of sustainable peace? I think it should, from an ideal and theoretical point of view. However, from a concrete perspective, it is not always the case. This is why, in our concrete practice, we accept that two conflicting parties can agree on some temporary arrangement, which can last one, two or three years. Then, during this period of time, we try to build trust between the parties in order to work on a much broader framework of reconciliation. In my view, therefore, reconciliation is an incremental and gradual process. It is only a posteriori that you can say “now we have reached reconciliation”.
One must keep in mind that social reconciliation can be reversible, as I have seen in my experience. In many areas, like in Southern Arabia or Iraq, we spend much time working on reconciliation and, at a certain moment, when we think that we have reached a consolidated level of reconciliation between the two parties, something happens in the country and we go ten steps backward. Since reconciliation is reversible, it needs to be coupled with many other elements to consolidate sustainability, in order to avoid that contextual fluctuations could hamper the whole process.
Proceedings of the Study Seminar
Opening Session
A Strategic Perspective on “Religion, Peace, and Security”
First Session
Introduction
Dr. Elie Al Hindy: “Interreligious Dialogue: Three Levels of Engagement for Peace and Security”
Dr. Majeda Omar: “The Amman Message and Other Insights from Jordan”
Round-Table Discussion
Second Session
Introduction
Prof. Aicha Haddou: Preventing Extremism: The Moroccan “Experience”
Imam Yahya Pallavicini: Policies and Initiatives Against the Radical Discourse in the MENA Region
Round-Table Discussion
Third Session
Introduction
Dr. Elie Abouaoun: “Food for Thought” On How to Foster Peace and Reconciliation in the MENA Region
Hon. Pascale Warda: Sectarianism and the Predicament of Religious Minorities in Iraq
Round-Table Discussion
See also
“Religion, Peace, and Security: Challenges and Prosepcts in the MENA Region”
