Mohammad Ghazal , The Jordan Times

AMMAN — Islamist leaders and politicians on Sunday said political Islamic movements in the region need to provide assurances to all powers and segments in society about their acceptance of others and openness to successfully take part in the political process.

They made the remarks at the opening of the “Political Islam Movements” conference on Sunday, noting that Islamist parties in the Arab world need to address internal differences and settle issues with other parties to rule successfully while guaranteeing the participation of all.

“I call on Islamist movements to revise their approach and ideology. For them to be able to promote their vision for politics, they need to win the confidence of all other segments and sects in society and even the external world and powers,” Taher Masri, former prime minister and Senate president, said at the opening.

Masri called for refraining from casting accusations, which cause hostility, hatred and fear.

“It is important not to reject the other and to resort to dialogue to address differences, which will play a key role in ending conflicts in the region between Islamist movements and ruling regimes,” he said.

“There is no alternative to dialogue in settling differences,” Masri added.

Around 150 leaders of Islamist movements, researchers, academics and politicians from 14 countries are attending the conference, held by the Middle East Studies Centre.

Addressing the participants, Hamzah Mansour, secretary general of the Islamic Action Front —the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan — said Islamist movements need to thoroughly understand the challenges and obstacles facing them in order to be able to overcome them.

“Political Islam movements need to give assurances to all segments of society, sects, individuals, groups and even non-Muslims about their vision and plans so they can be successful when assuming leadership positions,” Mansour noted.

“Amid the confusion and accusations levelled at Islamist movements, they need to give assurances that they respect innovation, protect all faiths and view non-Muslims in the Arab world as brothers and partners in the administration of state affairs,” he added.

“The Islamic state is a state of citizenship, and political Islam movements need to give assurances that they agree with the peaceful transition of power and are keen on addressing differences and strengthening relations with all powers in society.”

Mohamed Sawan, the head of the Libyan Muslim Brotherhood’s Justice and Development Party, agreed with Mansour, stressing that political Islam movements across the Arab world should set a model to be followed in settling differences with other political parties.

“Islamist movements are going through a very crucial stage, but they also have a great opportunity to take the lead in fostering democracy and strengthening reforms,” Sawan said.

Several papers on the future and challenges facing political regional Islam movements are being discussed during the two-day forum, according to Jawad Al Hamad, chairman of the conference and director of the centre.

“The conference comes at a very important time when movements across the Arab world are emerging and facing increasing challenges,” he noted.