Part of Islamic scholars attending the Conference

By Ragab Abumlih & El-Sayed M. Amin, IOL Staff

MUSCAT , March 12 (IslamOnline.net) – A five-day conference comprising Islamic Fiqh (jurisprudence) scholars urged a self-examination of school curricula in Muslim countries, saying that modernity and religious values could be juggled.

“The school curricula could be reviewed, with no external interference, to boost Islamic unity and spread a culture of co-existence with world peoples,” the participants at the Fiqh Islamic Council gathering said.

The Council – an offshoot of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) - began meeting in the Omani capital Muscat on March 6 till Thursday, March 11.

The participants urged no double standards in the education systems of Muslim countries, something they hoped would allow modern developments within an Islamic context.

Balance

Islamic values should be maintained in the revamp policies of education systems, with a best use of modern technology as well as coordination between Muslim countries, read the recommendations.

“The curricula should take into account Islam’s overall views on man, life and globe, in order to bring up a man or a woman - each committed to his or her religion,” the Council said.

“Education process is meant to implant Islamic values deep into their minds and allow their implementation on the ground,” it added.

Arab and Muslim countries have come under pressure following the September 11 deadly attacks on the United States to make changes to school curricula allegedly stocking up hatred to the West.

Washington claimed that 15 of the 19 suspected attackers were Saudis, who had been affected by an education system allegedly encouraging extremism and raising hatred for the West in the minds of school children.

The Islamic kingdom announced last year plans to shake up its educational system to promote moderation and tolerance.

The Gulf Cooperation Council leaders also approved a charter for educational reforms aimed at “reformulating school curricula” in the member states during a summit in Kuwait in December.

The GCC groups Bahrain , Kuwait , Oman , Qatar , Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates .

Kuwaiti Education Minister Rashid al-Hamad said last year that school texts have been rewritten to remove any reference that could be misinterpreted as promoting fanaticism.

Widespread Changes

Analysts said that many Arab and Islamic countries bowed to U.S. pressures and changed their curricula.

Jordanian Education Minister Khaled Tuqan said the same month that schools will get new textbooks in the 2004-2005 school year that would focus on “human rights in combating occupation, the differentiation between terrorism and legitimate resistance, the concept of terrorism”.

In Malaysia , the government is formulating a law  to prevent private religious schools from being used as "training grounds for religious extremism".

In Indonesia , the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is helping authorities crack down on religious schools, according to a press report released in July last year.

Observers believe that changing curricula would not water down anti-American sentiments, stemming from Washington 's unbalanced policies in the region

The U.S. military offensive on Iraq is seen by many Arabs and Muslims as a lead to long occupation of the oil-rich country, specially when compared to Washington 's bias towards Israel and reluctance to help Palestinians an independent state.