A top Muslim American leader believes that King Abdullah plays a key role in influencing decision-making in America and helping to counter the increasing Islamophobia in the West. This was one of the main arguments of Dr. Nihad Awad, Executive Director and co-founder of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), in an interview with Okaz/SG. On the eve of the King's visit to Washington, Awad also dealt with a number of other questions from Okaz/SG, including the contribution of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to help rectify the image of Islam in the West; support the causes of the Muslim Ummah; boost the dialogue initiative he had launched in New York; and consolidate the culture of moderation, peaceful coexistence and rapprochement between the Muslim world and America. Awad said that he considers the Kingdom to be a pioneering country in the Muslim world that has clearly shown its rejection of terrorism. At the outset, Awad emphasized that the Kingdom has great weight in the Muslim world and that no one can deny the role it has played in positive international initiatives to establish peace and resolve conflicts. Awad said King Abdullah is an international personality who enjoys the respect of world leaders, particularly US President Barrack Obama, who himself has shown unprecedented attention to the Muslim world and has launched a dialogue with Muslims. Strategic visit He described King Abdullah's visit to Washington as a strategic visit by all standards, not only to strengthen relations between Riyadh and Washington, but also to widen the circle of dialogue between the Muslim world and the US. Also, President Obama has extended a hand of friendship to the Muslim world during his famous speech in Cairo in June last year, said Awad. Image of Islam He said King Abdullah's visit will also help to rectify the image of Islam and of Muslims in the West. He emphasized that Islam is a religion of peace and love and has no relationship with terrorism. He confirmed that the initiative for dialogue between civilizations, which was launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has had a positive effect in international circles. The initiative has also served to calm the hostility against Islam. He stressed that there is a need to activate the interfaith dialogue initiative in America through civil society institutions and strategic research centers. He said the proposal to establish an international center for interfaith dialogue is of great importance to boost understanding between people of various cultures. Islamic-American summit Awad said the White House summit between President Obama and King Abdullah is not only a Saudi-American summit, but also an Islamic-American summit. He pointed out that the Muslim and Arab community in the US are eagerly awaiting the results of the summit including any positive ideas that can benefit them. They want King Abdullah to present their concerns clearly and frankly to the American Administration, in the transparent manner which has been the hallmark of the King's international trips abroad. Concerns of the Ummah Awad, who heads one of the most important and oldest organizations with influence in American decision-making, said the Saudi-American summit is gaining importance and that expectations are on the rise for the King to raise important issues. This includes the King presenting the case for the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and issues around the suffering of the Afghan people and other Muslim and Arab communities around the world. He said King Abdullah will for certain urge the American Administration to abide by its pledge to establish a Palestinian state, lift the blockade imposed on the Palestinian people, intervene to stop the building of settlements, and force the Israeli side to shoulder its responsibilities, stop the killing of Palestinians and to withdraw from occupied Palestinian and Arab land. He said the American Administration will listen to the King's wisdom and understanding of what is going on in the region. Awad said the American Administration is now busy rearranging its policy in Afghanistan after the resignation of General Stanley McCrystal and the appointment of General David Petraeus as commander of the American and international forces in Afghanistan. He said the Kingdom will also play a positive role in establishing peace in Afghanistan at this crucial stage. Islamophobia As for the condition of Muslims in the US, he expressed regret that there is an increase in Islamophobia in the country. It has now surpassed the stage of hostility and has become open aggression. Awad said extremist Christian movements have made their presence felt in political and media circles. They are now benefiting from political support to help formulate their extremist political discourse against Islam.
