Cancelled Amman Message seminar organisers baffled by threats

In the wake of an alleged bomb threat that brought about the cancellation of the Amman Message seminar, its organisers have reiterated their declaration that the original intention of the seminar was for it to be a global call for Muslim unity.

International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) deputy CEO Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil told Malaysiakini that given the Amman Message's call for Muslim unity, the organisers did not expect to receive threats that led to the cancellation of the July 13 seminar.

"The Amman Message is a call for Muslim unity in the world.

"Why is there resistance from certain groups? I do not wish to speculate on that," said Mohamed Azam, who went on to confirm that organisers were instructed to cancel the seminar for security reasons.

Bukit Aman's corporate communications chief Asmawati Ahmad said yesterday that the police had no hand in the organiser's decision to cancel the seminar.

Asmawati also confirmed that a police report was lodged over several comments found on an anti-Syiah Facebook page last weekend, threatening to bomb the seminar venue.

The Amman Message, a call for Muslim unity, was issued by Jordan’s King Abdullah II in 2004, followed by consultations with 24 senior religious scholars and the release of a three-point ruling endorsed by 200 Islamic scholars from more than 50 countries.

According to the official site of Amman Message, the three fundamental issues are as follows:

1. The scholars specifically recognised the validity of all eight mazhabs (legal schools) of Sunni, Shia and Ibadhi Islam; of traditional Islamic Theology (Ash’arism); Sufism and of true Salafi thought;
   
   
2. Based upon this definition they forbade the act of takfir (declarations of apostasy) between Muslims; and
   
   
3. Based upon the recognised legal school of thoughts, the scholars set forth the subjective and objective preconditions for the issuing of edicts, thereby exposing ignorant and illegitimate edicts in the name of Islam.

The three points were subsequently presented and unanimously adopted by political leaders at the Organisation of the Islamic Conference summit in Mecca in December 2005.

Among Malaysian politicians who signed the declaration were then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is the current IAIS chairperson, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin.

De facto Religious Affairs Minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa was originally scheduled to officiate the seminar co-organised by IAIS, the International Movement For A Just World (Just) and consultancy firm Zubedy.

The speakers scheduled to participate included Muslim scholar Hashim Kamali, who is also IAIS CEO, academicians Osman Bakar and Kamar Oniah Kamaruzaman and activist Chandra Muzaffar.