The Jordanian Islamic Action Front (IAF) secretary general, Abdel Latif Arabiyyat, confirmed that contacts between his party, the largest opposition group, and US and other western embassies have not stopped over the past few years. But he said that said no meetings have been held recently.
“We our minds and hearts are open for all,” he told Albawaba.com Tuesday, commenting on surfacing news reports on a dialogue between the IAF and US diplomats on the Afghanistan issue and that of Islam vis-à-vis terrorism.
Arabiyyat told Albawaba.com in an exclusive statement that “contacts are ongoing between the two sides. We, as politicians, have continuous contacts with all parties concerned [with issues of interest]; we visit them and welcome whoever visits us.”
But Arabiyyat denied there have been fresh meetings, responding to a report that the party has recently received a US official at its headquarters in Amman.
Earlier, a US embassy spokesperson declined to comment whether the embassy had decided to begin a campaign of public relations and a dialogue with the Islamists in Jordan.
“We meet with many people as part of our daily work,” the unnamed spokesperson told the Jordanian daily Al Rai.
The Islamic Organizations Council in Jordan, meanwhile, confirmed that it would receive the diplomatic advisor at the US embassy on Wednesday.
The official’s call on the council comes in the wake of a memo of protest the council had sent to the embassy expressing its resentment of the continuous bombardment of Afghanistan in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the casualties inflicted among civilians.
Responding to a question whether communications between the US and Islamists are aimed at probing their views regarding the bombardment of Afghanistan, the Palestinian issue and placing Islamic organizations on the terrorist list, Arabiyyat said, “I wouldn’t give these contacts more than they deserve. They are carried out within the framework of public relations.” – Albawaba.com
