Cablegate: Embassy Hosts Dutch-U.S. Muslim Dialogue

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TAGS: SCUL SOCI KPAO PHUM PREL KISL PINR NL
SUBJECT: EMBASSY HOSTS DUTCH-U.S. MUSLIM DIALOGUE

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1. (U) SUMMARY. The Embassy and the Leadership Conference
on Civil Rights Education Fund convened the mission's most
extensive outreach effort to date on November 1-2 when more
than 120 Dutch and American Muslims, government officials,
policy experts, civil rights and business leaders gathered
for intensive dialogues on social integration and managing
diversity. The dialogue hosted two effective citizen-to-
citizen dialogue programs attended by 72 Muslim
Participants and 48 Partners. Active participation by
Ambassador Arnall, other Embassy staff, and American
citizens succeeded in improving the perception of American
society as a whole and in dispelling many misconceptions
about the treatment and situation of Muslims in America.

2. (U) Participants responded enthusiastically, by sharing
personal experiences, acknowledging challenges, and
identifying best practices for increased civic participation
on both sides of the Atlantic. Press coverage was favorable
with the leading Dutch daily, De Telegraaf, calling it a
remarkable initiative. The Dialogue also laid the
groundwork for future, broader discussions with all sectors
of society on managing diversity and social integration,
which will form the basis of our outreach strategy for the
coming year. Please see www.diversitydialogues.nl for
further information. END SUMMARY.

DIALOGUE PROCESS - BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
-------------------------------------------

3. (U) Two years after the shocking murder of Dutch
filmmaker Theo van Gogh by a Dutch-born Islamist, the Dutch
remain focused on defusing social tensions associated with
the country's Muslims. The Dutch continue to grapple with
integration challenges and in response the Embassy hosted a
conference entitled Sharing Ideas Building Bridges: a
Dutch-U.S. Muslim Dialogue on November 1-2. The Embassy
convened the initiative with the Leadership Conference on
Civil Rights Education Fund (LCCREF), a Washington D.C.
based non-profit organization working as an umbrella for 180
national organizations on diversity, social integration, and
civil rights.

4. (U) Seventy-two Dutch and U.S. Muslims, drawn from a
broad cross-section of society met as Dialogue Participants.
Many, including Shaykh Muhammed Hishan Kabbani, Chairman of
the Islamic Supreme Council of America, praised the Embassy
for bringing together Muslims of such different ethnic
backgrounds. Participants attended dialogue sessions
moderated by professional facilitators on such topics as
identity, civic participation, media, youth, women's issues
and economic opportunity.

5. (U) Action plans presented by each group during the
closing plenary included: combating high school drop-out
rates and unemployment within minority groups; providing
media training to promote a diversity of Muslim voices,
promoting role models among Moroccan youth; educating
Muslims and the general public about the Muslim immigrant
experience and heritage; and narrowing the generation gap
within Muslim immigrant communities by building stronger
social networks across age demographics and experience.

6. (U) Some 48 Dialogue Partners met in parallel sessions.
American partners included: Matt Bryza, European Deputy
Assistant Secretary (DOS); Farah Pandith, Director for
Middle East Regional Initiatives (NSC); Wade Henderson,
President of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights;.
Presenting Dutch Partners included: Maria van der Hoeven,
Minister of Education; Ahmed Aboutaleb, Amsterdam Deputy
Mayor; Paul Scheffer, Professor of Urban Studies at
Amsterdam University and an authority on multi-cultural
society; and Jo Ritzen, former Minister of Education and
current President of Maastricht University.

6. (U) These Dialogue Partners were then invited to join
the Muslim Participants during a final plenary session to
provide feedback and comments on the action plans
presented. Partners were also encouraged to connect with
the Participants during a final lunch, evening reception,
and closing dinner.

DIALOGUE LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR FURTHER ENGAGEMENT
--------------------------------------------- --

7. (U) The Dialogue successfully met its goals of building
bridges among and between American and Dutch Muslims. Many

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spoke openly of the need for stronger contact networks
through which mainstream Muslims can communicate and
organize. Others were excited to learn of new activists and
organizations in the U.S. working on these issues. Vowing to
continue the momentum begun at the conference, some
Americans initiated a new network of Muslims in the
Washington, D.C., area and pledged to meet regularly.

8. (U) In addition to the action plans, a handful of
initiatives arose organically during the dialogue as
connections were made and ideas were shared. For example, a
group of Dutch Moroccan business executives -- many meeting
each other for the first time -- discussed practical
solutions to increasing Moroccan representation in Dutch
businesses. Another Dutch Participant described during the
closing plenary how fellow participants were the missing
link, helping him get funding for an upcoming job fair for
minority students.

9. (U) In a spontaneous and motivating closing speech,
Ahmed Aboutaleb, a well regarded Dutch Muslim politican,
congratulated the event and reiterated the importance of
building trust within our societies. Ambassador Arnall's
warmly received remarks reiterated the importance of vision
and encouraged all present to continue the dialogue begun
during the conference. Many expressed gratitude to the
Ambassador, Mrs. Arnall, and Embassy for their graciousness
as co-conveners of the conference. A desire for further
dialogue was a common refrain, with some calling
specifically for future dialogues to include representatives
of Christian, Hindu, and Jewish communities in both
countries.

COMMENT: FOCUS ON CITIZEN-TO-CITIZEN DIALOGUE
--------------------------------------------- --

10. (SBU) Integration remains a sensitive topic in the
Netherlands. Our Dutch contacts were initially skeptical
about the Embassy's hosting of a Dutch-U.S. Muslim Dialogue,
despite assurances from all levels, including the
Ambassador, that the Embassy was not seeking to lecture the
Dutch on integration matters. Press coverage was favorable
however, with the leading Dutch daily, De Telegraaf, calling
it a remarkable initiative.

11. (SBU) To ensure an honest and constructive dialogue,
the Embassy conscientiously protected Dialogue Participants'
privacy. By design, government officials, including Embassy
staff, press, and Dialogue Partners, did not take part in
the dialogue sessions. This approach earned Participant
trust, effectively disarming those who were more skeptical
of the USG's motives for holding the conference.

12. (SBU) The Embassy believes that the Dialogue's most
valuable contribution was to connect knowledgeable
individuals (i.e. role models) with those actively seeking
guidance. Embassy strongly supports the grassroots efforts
reflected in follow-on initiatives and action plans
developed during the Dialogue. The Embassy will continue to
provide speakers focusing on diversity and plans to continue
the momentum begun at the Dialogue by convening an alumni
event in the near future, perhaps in conjunction with the
celebration of Martin Luther King's birthday. These
activities are consistent with Secretary Rice's calls for
increased engagement with Muslim communities worldwide.
Moreover, they further the broader goals of fostering a
richer understanding of diversity within American and Dutch
societies, including the need for greater social
integration, religious pluralism, and equal opportunity in
housing, education, and employment.

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