Brussels, 06/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - During 'Arab Week' at the European Parliament in Brussels (3-6 November 2008) as part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008, the European Parliament's Education and Culture Committee organised a debate with two education and culture representatives from the Arab world. Saudi Arabian sociologist and writer Forwziyah Abu Khalid started by talking about the role of women in education in Saudi, a role she said was often misunderstood in the West, where there is a biaised view of women influenced by the stereotype of downtrodden women wearing the veil. Eager to ensure the respect of cultural diversity, Abu Khalid regretted the obstacles blocking a genuinely multicultural vision of society and slammed wars based on cultural identity issues. Welcoming the European Parliament's organisation of an Arab Week, she hoped that initiatives would be organised in the future outside the official framework for ordinary citizens in order to fight against received ideas and allow greater mutual understanding. She criticised the clash of civilisations approach to cultural diversity and a black and white vision of the world with the West on one side and everywhere else on the other. She said both approaches led to despair and hatred of people of a different culture. Slamming unjust wars fought in the name of democracy (Iraq), she reminded the West of the cultural and literary wealth of the Arab world that had left its impact in Europe in the past and continues to impregnate European society. MEPs' questions focussed on the position of women and respect of women's rights in the Arab world. Intercultural dialogue between East and West (which the European Parliament tries to promote) comes to a halt when fundamental rights and women's rights are not respected, explained Christa Prets (PES, Austria). Democracy means allowing citizens to live where they want and choose their own religion rather than using democracy as a pretext for destroying other cultures, she added. Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (EPP-ED, Luxembourg) encouraged Arab and European universities to work together, giving the example of a joint European -Arab university whose work should be extended by exchanges among staff and students, she said. Hannu Takkula (ALDE, Finland) stressed the importance of dialogue to ensure citizens of different religious communities have their rights respected in Europe and Arab countries alike. Mohammad Wassel, secretary general at the Syrian higher education ministry, described the situation in Syria, highlighting Syria's cultural diversity, where all religions live side-by-side. He explained that university education in Syria is secular and respects this religious cohabitation. Wassel welcomed scientific cooperation exchanges between the EU and Syria, and hoped they would be expanded. (I.L. trans fl)