The importance of USIP’s convening authority and its unique expertise in religion, peacebuilding, Afghanistan, and conflict management training was evident in a closed-door session between leading religious leaders, scholars, practitioners and representatives from the U.S. government on Monday, March 5, 2012.

The session was hosted by USIP’s David Smock, Andrew Wilder, Moeed Yusuf and moderated by Qamar-ul Huda, senior program officer. USIP Executive Vice President Tara Sonenshine introduced and closed the session, which was attended by Islamic experts as well as officials from the Defense and State departments and USAID.

Highlights from the off-the-record session include:

• The desecration of the Koran and the response to its burning must be seen in the larger context of Afghanistan’s deeper frustration with the growing disparity in the country between rich and poor, the absence of justice, the prevalence of corruption, the breakdown of trust in a respect-based culture and a sense that the war in Afghanistan has focused too heavily on security and terrorism and not enough on education, basic living, social justice and human security. It should also be viewed in the wider context of globalization and the experiences of Muslims all over the world.
• We are fast approaching a “tipping’” point where these kinds of incidents grow out of control because extremists take advantage of the emotionally-charged atmosphere in order to undermine tolerance and progress. The incidents are used as occasions to express frustration and can become exploited by internal and external extremists who thrive on such instability. Many hands are working to sabotage Afghan progress which is a real danger.
• President Obama’s apology -- and the apologies from other high-ranking U.S. and international officials -- were welcome in Afghanistan and understood; the Koran values apologies and does not value the taking of life even in defense of the burning of scripture.
• Events in Afghanistan must be seen in the wider context of Afghanistan having been a battleground during the Cold War years, culminating in the Soviet invasion and occupation and U.S. support for Islamic mujahideen groups during the 1980s. This was followed in the 1990s by several years of internecine fighting between warring Afghan factions backed by rival regional actors which ultimately was ended by the Taliban takeover of most of the country.
• Training is absolutely critical and must go beyond pre-deployment to a full range of training around how to work in a culture of respect where the attitude and mindset of the local population is vital to success.
• Extremist actors exploit episodes of religious insensibilities as a way to further divide the work of peacebuilding and ensuring stability to Afghanistan, and yet again, we are reminded of their particular narrow interpretation of religion and influence with civil society actors.
• Women were not visible in the protests of the desecration of the Koran, but this doesn’t mean that they are passively disconnected with this issue, rather women voiced their concern of religious and cultural disrespect in nonviolent ways in the parliament, local councils and in areas in where women have an influence on local communities.
• Preventing these kinds of incidents will require serious conversations about faith, and how real peace is not just a cessation of hostilities but also about social, economic and psychological peace.
• There should be an interagency task force to look at cultural sensitivities in the Islamic world as well as the short-term and long-range challenges.

Explore Further

• The Koran Desecration and the Role of Religion in Conflict
  Peace Brief by Qamar-ul Huda
• Beyond Power-sharing: Institutional Options for an Afghan Peace Process
  Peaceworks by Hamish Nixon and Caroline Hartzell
• Making Peace in Afghanistan
  Special Report by Minna Jarvenpaa
• Peace From the Bottom-Up? The Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program
  PRIO Paper [External Link]
• USIP Prevention Newsletter - March 2012
• Progress on Peacebuilding in Afghanistan [PDF/252.3 KB]
• Overseas Religious Engagement
  USIP Academy Course
• Building Bridges through Intergroup Dialogue
  USIP Academy Course