Azerbaijan is a diverse society with rich history: U.S. president 's counselor on Muslims

Trend News: The Muslim world has sensed the President Barack Obama's speech in Cairo as a step forward to "open a new page in the American-Islamic relations". What steps must the US administration take to promote a new dialogue with the Muslim steps? In its turn, what should the Muslim world do to help the USA in its plan of promotion the dialogue with the Muslim world?

Dalia Mogahed: The United States must first seek to understand the problems at the heart of the relationship. These include Muslims' anger at violent conflicts involving the United States directly or indirectly, like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the ongoing Israeli Palestinian conflict. Muslims were further alienated because they believed the United States disrespected Islam and wished to dominate and exploit the region.

Muslims must also seek to understand how Americans perceive them. The main issue which Americans see as straining relations is of course violent extremism committed by Muslims against Americans. Muslims around the world are at least as concerned about violent extremism as are residents of the United States, so in fact this issue is a shared concern. Furthermore, Muslims around the world are at least as likely as Americans to condemn terrorism. But Muslims should show the world who they are, not just tell the world what they are not. They should come forth with constructive solutions to global problems as engaged global citizens.

Q: Islamophobia remains the main problem of the Muslim world and America. Do you think this problem needs a political solution with participation of the US and Muslim governments?

A: I think that Islamophobia, or any other prejudice, is a problem that requires education, not legislation.

Q:The western world asserts that the religious and political split in the Islamic society put obstacle on promotion of dialogue with Muslims. To what extent do you find negativeness of division within the Muslims on understanding Islam in the West?

A: I think it would be unrealistic to expect 1.5 billion people [Muslims] to agree on everything, since we certainly don't expect this of Christians who are split up into hundreds of denominations. Muslims are not one monolithic group. The irony is that when it comes to inter religious dialogue, I think Muslims struggle with the same issue and ask who among the Christians should they be speaking to? The answer in both cases is that each community's rich diversity must be represented for dialogue to be authentic and effective.

That said, Muslims should work actively to not allow anyone to exploit Muslim diversity to incite violence and conflict. This is important for Muslims' own progress and prosperity, aside from their relationship with other communities.

Q: Azerbaijan is famous for its religious tolerance. Could this be a model for the rapprochement of Islamic and Western societies?

A: Azerbaijan is a diverse society with a rich history, and its people are proud of their heritage and identity. As powerful of a model as this is, I believe no one solution will work for everyone and each society will have to shape its solutions to its unique character.

/Trend News/