Aug 29, 2014 | Events
Discussion on the launch of a report by Ismail Adam Patel.
Speaker:
Ismail Adam Patel (author) – Founder and chairman of Friends of Al-Aqsa; advisory board member of the Conflicts Forum, and a member of the Special Advisory Board of Clear Conscience.
Reviewers:
Oliver McTernan – Co-founder and director of Forward Thinking; founding member of the Nyon Process – UN Alliance of Civilisations. Author of Violence in God’s Name.
Dr. Daud Abdullah – Director, Middle-East Monitor; Expert on Palestine.
Moderator:
Dr. Anas Altikriti – CEO, The Cordoba Foundation
Wednesday 24th September 2014 6:30PM
P21 Gallery – 21 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD
Click here to register
Aug 29, 2014 | News & Press
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Aug 29, 2014 | News & Press
‘Celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace in a unique way, meeting other people who live in London it is likely you have never met. Find out what they think; ask questions you’ve always wanted to ask.’
21 September 2014, 2pm-4pm.
North Greenwich Emirates Air Line station.
Aug 27, 2014 | Events
The Cordoba Foundation, London Peace Network & Faith-based Regeneration Network
Peace Conference:
Peace-Building in the 21st Century
Celebrating Achievements and Hopes, Confronting Real Issues
St Ethelburga’s, London – Monday 15 September, 2014 -9:30am-3:30pm
St Ethelburga’s Centre, 78 Bishopsgate London EC2N 4AG
Supported by Christian Muslim Forum, Muslim Council of Britain, Religions for Peace, Al-Khoei Foundation, Quakers, Peace One Day, UN Westminster and others.
From the crises in the Middle East, to reducing conflict in our homes and streets, this timely conference engages scholars, experts, faith and community leaders to discuss the limits and challenges of grassroots peace endeavours, learn peace-building skills, and explore conceptual frameworks governing peace and dialogue.
All welcome.
Limited space.
Register – https://londonpeaceconference.eventbrite.co.uk
Tickets: £15 Regular / £5 for concessions
See the complete International Day of Peace program
See the Flights For Peace event program
Aug 3, 2014 | News & Press
On 21, 22, and 24 July 2014, a number of letters were sent by HSBC Bank UK advising that the business accounts of The Cordoba Foundation and the personal accounts of Mr. Anas Altikriti and members of his family, including two minor children, were being closed without further consultation. A period of two months notice was given in which alternative arrangements were to be made with another bank, as HSBC Bank UK was no longer prepared to offer banking services.
In a number of identical letters received, HSBC Bank UK stated that the it had “recently conducted a review of its portfolio of customers and has concluded that provision of banking services to The Cordoba Foundation UK Ltd. now falls outside of our risk appetite”.
It is with the utmost concern that HSBC Bank UK has taken such an unprecedented course of action. It is quite clear that no prior concerns with the account holders had been identified or raised and it remains unclear as to what precisely has prompted the bank to take this wholly unjustified course of action.
Of particular concern, is the fact that in ordering the closure of the accounts, it will create a ‘black mark’ against those concerned and alternative banking services may be difficult, if not impossible to now source. This in itself has the potential to cause significant damage to reputation.
HSBC Bank UK has refused thus far to provide any reasons whatsoever to justify their decision, simply stating “we have taken the decision that we no longer wish to provide you with banking facilities and are closing your account.” All attempts to contact the Bank through the helpline number provided on the letter have failed. Those persons affected have been confronted with a wall of silence.
It is recognised that the right to withhold banking facilities lies with the institution in question, nevertheless, it is wholly inappropriate that a bank can take such a decision that can have such far reaching consequences, without providing any form of justification or redress.
It is also of significance that the Bank has also made a decision to close accounts associated with a number of other Islamic groups or individuals. Without any real justification being disclosed, there is a clear inference that the Bank is making their decisions on wholly discriminatory grounds, which the Bank recognises is illegal.
HSBC Bank UK is hereby asked to:
1. Provide legitimate reasons for why they have taken the decision to close the accounts of The Cordoba Foundation, Mr. Anas Altikriti;
2. Issue a full and unequivocal apology for any potential damage to reputation;
3. Enter immediate dialogue with Mr. Altikriti and/or his representatives to discuss a solution to the perceived problem(s).
[Ends]
Notes to editors:
For formal enquiries and further information, please contact:
1.Toby Cadman
Barrister-at-law
9 Bedford Row International
(http://www.9bri.com)
2. The Cordoba Foundation
Westgate House
Level 7
Westgate Road
Ealing
London W5 1YY
UK
Tel. +44 (0)20 8991 3372
Fax. +44 (0)20 8991 3373
www.thecordobafoundation.com
Jul 11, 2014 | News & Press
As thousands converge in Potocari today for the funeral prayers of over 400 bodies and the 19th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, we are once again reminded of the lengths that man could potentially go to when immersed in a state of fear, hatred and division.
The Memorial Day puts to rest any naivety that the lessons of the past have not only been learned, but well and truly headed. Not only are human beings chronically capable of committing the most repugnant of acts against fellow human beings, regardless of the advancement of time, the catalysts for these crimes are invariably similar whatever the different and unique circumstances of each.
The Cordoba Foundation has been working tirelessly to raise awareness of the threat man poses against his fellow man, should particular conditions become established on the ground. Whether Srebrenica, Auswitz, Rwanda, Gaza, Kashmir, Myanmar or Somalia, and whether in the last century, this or the one coming, injustice establishes fear which breads suspicion and ultimately hatred. From there, the move on to violence is neither a difficult nor inconceivable step to undertake. Our objective is to work in common collaboration to remove the very initial elements on that tragic path, and to counter the root causes for clashes based on false and misguided understanding and implementation of the concepts of ‘self’ and ‘the other’.
The Srebrenica Memorial Day provides a timely reminder to us all of the challenges that can only be met in a sense of togetherness and community.
The Cordoba Foundation and Islamic Forum of Europe are issuing this special sermon from the Mufti of Bosnia Herzegovinia on this occasion
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Jul 10, 2014 | Reports
Paper by Ismail Adam Patel
This issue of the Cordoba Papers addresses the Palestinian question from another and arguably unique angle. The whole question of Palestinian independence from an Islamic legal point of view is one that is very rarely posed, and even more so addressed adequately and thoroughly. Such an examination is crucial for the understanding of the question of Palestine for young academics, Palestinians, Muslims and others, keen on getting to grips with this issue away from the domination of the pure political narrative.
Ismail Adam Patel is an expert on this issue. His leadership for two decades of Friends of al-Aqsa; the leading UK organisation in education, information, campaigning, and advocacy on Palestine, as well as his own insights and understanding of the Islamic legal perspective on this complex issue, are invaluable to his excellent critique.
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Jun 27, 2014 | News & Press
Jun 18, 2014 | News & Press
Arab Organisation for Human Rights and Palestine Solidarity Campaign
present…
ISRAEL’S “ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION” POLICY AND THE PLIGHT OF PALESTINIANS ON HUNGER STRIKE
Addressing the dire plight of nearly 200 Palestinians in Israeli jails on hunger strike (for over 50 days), protesting against their detention without charge or trial under Israel’s “administrative detention” policy. Shackled, tortured (including sexual), and poor treatment, many are on the verge of death.
This is a call to the international community to give voice to the voiceless and victims of human rights abuses in Israeli jails.
Tuesday 24 June, 2014
6:15pm
Bronte Room
The British Library – 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
Nearest tubes: Kings Cross / Euston
Speakers:
Clare Short – Secretary of State for International Development, 1997- 2003.
Sir Gerald Kaufman – Member of Parliament
Toby Cadman – International Criminal Law Specialist.
Victoria Brittain – British journalist; author of Hidden Lives, Hidden Deaths and Death of Dignity.
Sarah Colborne – Director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Mohammed Jamil – Director, Arab Organisation for Human Rights (UK)
All welcome.
Limited space, register early!
To register visit: http://aohrhungerstrike.eventbrite.co.uk
www.aohr.org.uk | 0203 188 4107
www.palestinecampaign.org/ | 020 7700 6192
Jun 17, 2014 | Events
SEMINAR: FAR-RIGHT ELECTION SUCCESS IN EUROPE What Future for Community
Click here to access the video
Monday 23 June, 20146:30pm – 9pmLondon Muslim Centre – The Seminar Room46 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JX Nearest tube: Aldgate East or Whitechapel.
The recent May European elections saw dramatic gains by far-right parties across the continent, including outright fascists, Islamophobes and neo-Nazis. Join this timely seminar to discuss the immediate to long-term impact and consequences of the surge in the far-right on community relations. Could this be described as a one-off protest vote or a permanent trend leading to further racism, Islamophobia and a more divided society?
SPEAKERS:
Professor Raphael Liogier – Sociologist and Philosopher, Director of the “Observatoire des Religions” (Observatory of the Religious Phenomenons), Raphaël Liogier is a fully tenured French University Professor at the Political Studies Institute of Aix-en-Provence (Sciences Po Aix) and teaches at the International College of Philosophy in Paris (Collège international de philosophie). He is Expert-Evaluator with the European Commission (FP: Framework Programmes in Humanities and Social Sciences) and a member of the Editorial Board of Social Compass: (International Review of Sociology of Religion). He is mainly working on belief systems, values, the theory of knowledge and cultural globalization, and he has recently produced extensive work on the rise of populism in Europe and the ideologies that sustain the anti-Muslim sentiment.
Alan Murray – President of the European Network on Religion and Belief (ENORB), and chairs the trustees of the All Faith and None (AFAN) programme. He was the Churches’ National Adviser on Further Education at the Archbishops Council from 2003-2008; a Visiting Research Fellow in the Department of Education at Kings College, London in 2008. He maintains a special interest in inter-faith work which he first developed working with Muslim colleagues whilst teaching in Algeria in the 1970s.
Shenaz Bunglawala – Head of Research at iEngage, which promotes engagement of British Muslims in British national life. She has taught undergraduate courses in political science at the LSE and King’s College, London. She sits on the Research Excellence Framework 2014 expert sub-panel for Theology and Religious Studies and advises on various AHRC/ESRC research projects. She is a Non-Resident Executive to the Razak School of Government in Malaysia and sits on the executive committee of Faith in Europe.
Dr Glyn Robbins – Chair of the United East End (UEE) coalition, which has been campaigning against Islamophobia and racism in Tower Hamlets, especially in response to threats from the English Defence League. He has over 20 years of experience in community work, housing, urban regeneration, the voluntary sector and defending public services. He has a doctorate from the London Metropolitan University.
All welcome. Registration not required.
Info: media@islamicforumeurope.com | 020 7 456 1062
www.islamicforumeurope.com
Supported by: European Network on Religion and Belief – Enough Coalition Against Islamophobia – United East End – The Cordoba Foundation
