(. . . and which isn't likely to be much reported by the MSM.)

I have been very concerned with the need for Islamic reform lately, and I just updated my previous post about the Saudi madrassa in my neighborhood. But because I think this is very important stuff (I know people tend to miss the updates), I thought it deserved a new post all its own.

Dean Esmay also has a good post (via a link to National Review's Joel C. Rosenberg) about a vitally important subject: the solid accomplishments of Morocco's director of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Ahmad Abaddi, who has set a shining example for the rest of the Muslim world (and for all of us) in his efforts to combat terrorism and build peace with the West.

Dr. Abaddi is described as "A Different Sort of Radical Muslim," and
thanks to his influence, Morocco has done the following:

* They launched a theological training program for Imams to teach them how to promote moderation within Islam, to teach them more about Western history and the importance of Christianity and Judaism to Western social and political development, and to help them identify and oppose extremist forces and trends within Islam. Participants take 32 hours of instruction per week for a full year. The first class of 210 just graduated, and included 55 women.

* They helped organize the “World Congress of Rabbis and Imams for Peace” in Brussels (January 2005) and Seville (March 2006) where some 150 Muslim and Jewish leaders “sit beard to beard” to explore common ground, denounce extremists, and “write declarations of peace.”

* They launched an initiative to build a “bridge of friendship” to evangelical Christians in the U.S., including on-going dialogues with Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals, Rob Schenck of the National Clergy Council, and Josh McDowell of Campus Crusade for Christ, among others. Abaddi and his colleagues have also invited pastors and evangelical business leaders to Morocco for conferences and high-level inter-faith talks, and have even helped organize a series of concerts in Marrakesh where Christian and Muslim rock bands perform together for thousands of Moroccan young people.

* They published a book about the importance of encouraging religious freedom within Islam and even suggested that “Muslims have the right to change their religion” if they so desire.

* Abaddi also confirmed rumors swirling about in the Arab press that his government is quietly laying the groundwork with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to hold a new round of high-level peace talks in the Kingdom in the near future. He noted that King Hassan II—the late-father of the current monarch—opened secret talks with the Israelis as far back as the early 1970s and that Morocco was the first Arab government after Egypt to welcome an Israeli Prime Minister for a public visit (Shimon Peres in July 1986).

"religious classes to teach Imams the history and virtues of the West, and dramatic new initiatives to build ties to Rabbis and evangelical Christians"?

That is real progress.

Is it too much to hope for the same from the Saudis?

Asks Dean,

What, you say you don't hear about these things in the Mainstream Media? Well no you don't. Shame, ain't it?

Says Dr. Abaddi:

I think the Moroccan model is practical and helpful. It communicates an entirely different concept of Islam to the rest of the world….I personally can’t sit back and do nothing. After all, there is an Arab proverb that says, ‘Don’t be a mute Satan.’ I feel compelled to do everything I can to make a better world.