The Cordoba Foundation and the Association of Sri Lankan Lawyers in the UK cordially invite you to an evening lecture given by the prominent Sri Lankan Judge and peace activist , Judge Weeramantry (former vice president of the International Court of Justice, The Hague) and author of many books including one on Islamic Jurisprudence. (Invite attached)
Date : 4th September 2013
Venue : BPP Law School (Holborn) 68-70 Red Lion Street, London WC1R 4NY
Please note that this is a ticketed event (£10 professionals / £7 students) and must be paid to the Association of Sri Lankan lawyers
The Cordoba Foundation will be leading a delegation of British Muslims to Bosnia-Herzegovina this year, from 24th-30 September 2013. The trip is part of ongoing work by The Cordoba Foundation in Bosnia, namely raising awareness around the massacre in Srebrenica and supporting specific projects.
In this trip we will be accompanied by a distinguished South African scholar, Shaykh Ebrahim Bham. Shaykh ham has served in various capacities in South Africa at Newtown Islamic Institute, Al-Aqsa Institute, and the Mayfair Jameand Hamidiamosques.
Presently the chief theologian and general-secretary of the Council of Muslim Theologians in Johannesburg, South Africa,ShaykhBham is an executive member of National Religious Leaders Forum; executive member of Muslim AIDS Programme (MAP); national trustee of Moral Regeneration Movement; and a leading figure within the United‘Ulama Council of South Africa (UUCSA).
AIMS:
1. Observe how Bosnian Muslims have responded and are recovering from the long years of war, destruction and ethnic-cleansing.
2. Discuss and exchange ideas and thoughts about the Muslim experience in Europe and future scenarios.
3. Support specific fundraising projects.
4. Raise greater awareness of the genocide.
BUILD (Building Understanding through International Links for Development) and its partners including The Cordoba Foundation (TCF) cordially invite you to a crucial meeting:
Setting the Agenda: A New Vision and Voice for Diaspora in the UK
Date & Place: Saturday 7 September 2013, Birmingham
The purpose of the meeting is to provide an opportunity to highlight the role and contribution of diaspora organisations and communities to British life and enable our diverse voices to be amplified and heard.
This is a unique and much needed space for communities to come together and articulate a new and positive vision of diversity in the present challenging climate.
Background to the meeting
Over the past two years BUILD has organized a series of consultations with representatives of diaspora groups particularly from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean in Edinburgh, Sheffield, Wolverhampton, Bristol, London and Cardiff under the title “Building on UK Diaspora International Partnerships” (BUKDIP).
The purpose of these consultations was to explore how we could build on the links that representatives of the diaspora have with their home communities and broaden those links out to involve schools, hospitals and the wider community.
During the course of the consultations it became clear that participants were concerned with a much broader agenda.
Key questions emerging were:
1. “How can we get better access to UK policy makers (politicians)?”
2. “How can we help UK policy makers to understand the particular contribution that the diaspora make to British society and some of the particular problems facing people from ethnic minorities?”
3. “How can we collaborate with policy makers in UK particularly in the area of development in our countries of origin?”
These questions will be addressed at the September meeting which will help us to shape a new and positive and forward-looking agenda.
Propagation of findings
BUILD will propagate its findings through two crucial forums in which to promote and influence debate and decision makers.
Firstly, BUILD is the convenor /facilitator of an all-party parliamentary group (APPG) “Connecting Communities” which gives us access to parliamentarians, both in the House of Commons and in the House of Lords and we have held many meetings to discuss issues around linking communities here and in the South.
Secondly , we are a Commonwealth accredited organisation and have attended the Commonwealth People’s Forums at the Heads of Government meetings in Brisbane, Malta, Kampala and Trinidad and Tobago as well as Education Ministers’ meetings in Cape Town and Kuala Lumpur. We will be present at the next Commonwealth People’s Forum in Sri Lanka in December of this year and have an opportunity for our voice to be heard by Commonwealth leaders.
In addition we hope that the outcomes of the meeting will be taken up by the media and inform policy and actions of politicians and decision makers, and influence the discourse on immigration and migration.
We hope you will be able to join us and add your voice to the shaping of a shared agenda and ways forward.
Your thoughts and advice will be compiled into a report which we anticipate will attract considerable interest in the media and will be presented face to face to national and Commonwealth leaders and politicians and will bring about change.
Attendance is by application only.
Please let us know if you can attend by completing and returning the attached form. When you apply we will give you details of the programme for the day and other administrative matters.
Please send the form to the following address: nick@build-online.org.uk
A critical reflection on the challenges of community building.
“…what is our community going to look for 10, 20 or even a 100 years from now? It’s about creating spaces that allow the core to be normal, and the normal to be core.” – Usama Canon
At the heart of our rapidly changing world, the very notion of community is evolving; and, like most of the world, at the heart of Muslim communities is an increasingly disenfranchised generation. What are the challenges of inspiring and instituting a communal spirit in our ever more inter-connected world? How best can we prepare the next generation of Muslims who inherit a world fraught with difficulties on every level?
The Leaf Network in association with Human Appeal presents in partnership with The Cordoba Foundation, City Circle, Beyond Boundaries, Faith Regen Foundation, Radical Middle Way, National Zakat Foundation and Rumi’s Cave:
A panel discussion reflecting on the very notion of what the Muslim community is and what we can do to help shape and move it in the best direction possible.
This interactive event seeks to specifically target change-makers, community leaders, activists and those involved in grassroots organisations. It will be a unique opportunity to critically evaluate where we are headed as a Muslim community and learn from best practice around the world.
Panellists:
Keynote address by Usama Canon (USA) (Founding Director of Ta’leef Collective, California)
Dr Husna Ahmad (Secretary General of the World Muslim Leadership Forum)
Farooq Murad (Secretary General of Muslim Council of Britain)
Muddassar Ahmed (CEO of Unitas Communications)
Dr Anas Altikriti (CEO of The Cordoba Foundation)
Date and time: Saturday 10th August 2013, 1:00pm doors open for prompt 1:30pm start – (concludes 4:30 pm)
Venue: Al Manaar, The Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre,
244 Acklam Road, London, W10 5YG
(Nearest Tube Station: Westbourne Park – Hammersmith & City Line).
Please click here for a map and directions to get there
(please note we would not like anyone to be restricted in coming thus we offer a concessionary rate ticket for those under financial hardship. Should this not suffice, please get in touch and we’ll gladly arrange something on a case by case basis)
**Places are strictly limited, please reserve your place ASAP**
We sincerely hope you will be able to attend this distinctive gathering and bless us with your presence, insights and contributions. Please do let us know if you have any questions or queries.
Aimed at European and Western readerships, the MENA Report aims to provide impartial, accurate and authoritative content and analysis, through The Cordoba Foundation’s unique access to rare and highly important primary sources in the Middle East and beyond
The MENA Report seeks to unpick and unravel some of this, and provide objective and strategic insights into events and developments in the region.
In this edition, we analyse the Muslim Brotherhood and the struggles for shaping contemporary Arab identity
The Cordoba Foundation and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London launched a new film about Islam in Poland, directed by William Barylo. Hosted by Witold Sobków, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in London, the screening of the film and Iftaar (breaking of the fast) took place at the Polish Embassy in London on Thursday 18th July.
The film, “Polish Muslims: An Unexpected Meeting”, was directed and produced by William Baryło, a doctoral candidate at the EHESS, Paris and Research Assistant at The Cordoba Foundation.
The film gives insights to the sheer diversity of the Muslim communities in Poland and provides a glimpse of the relationship between Muslims and the whole Polish society. More than describing the centuries-old Muslim legacy in Poland and presenting the current challenges for the Polish society, ‘Polish Muslims’ explores the building of bridges in a multi-cultural society.
In attendance were leading figures from Muslim, Jewish and multi-faith organisations, charities, research institutions as well as community activists and youth.
The event was moderated by by Dr Anas Altikriti, CEO of The Cordoba Foundation and opening remarks from His Excellency, Mr Witold Sobków, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in London.
Dr. Altikriti remarked that “it is more than a happy coincidence that the name of the Ambassador coincides with Prince Witold, who welcomed in the 14th century the very first waves of Muslim Tatars to Poland.”
His Excellency, the Ambassador, studied Islamic Studies and Arabic Language in SOAS, welcomed the audience with a respectful “As-Salaam Alaykum”. He underlined the importance of knowledge to “fight prejudice, ignorance and stereotypes.”
Describing himself as an advocate of “the peaceful coexistence of cultures”, he asserted that Islam is a “peaceful religion, not a threat”, and highlighted its key values of “justice, compassion and solidarity.” The ambassador stressed the need for a society that is respectful of cultures, and urged all to “do our best to fight Islamophobia”, and that “the corrosive effects of Islamophobia should be recognised as unacceptable and not tolerated.”
The Ambassador extended its words of appreciation to The Cordoba Foundation “for their initiative, innovative approach and the clear vision of the work they have been carrying out since 2005”. He further commented: “The objectives of the Foundation are relevant in the times we have come to live and I hope that by the means of systematic and strategic steps we can ensure the progress of a peaceful and respectful coexistence of cultures, ideas and people.”
About the film, the ambassador admitted that “the lives and experiences of the Muslims in Poland is in many ways an unknown territory to many people” and thus congratulated the film director, William Barylo, for “all his efforts in bringing this part of Poland closer to us.”
His Excellency, Mr Sobków described the film as “fantastic”. Whilst there was a lot everyone learned from the film, he pointed out the film’s objectivity, which showed both the positive side and the challenges facing the Muslim communities in Poland.
Providing an overview of Poland’s cultural wealth and complexity, the film raises interesting and pertinent issues for discussion and debate. Precisions have been given especially on the general open-mindedness of the Polish society and government towards minorities, the activism of young Polish Muslims and the different Muslim representative organisations.
Rabbi Herschel Gluck, founder of the Jewish-Muslim Forum, said “this is an important perspective about a community which many are unaware of. It’s very important as an European that there is a thriving Muslim community in Poland which is respected and which is very engaged with Polish life. It’s actually an integrant part of the Polish narrative.”
Alicja Kaczmarek, head of the Polish Expats Association, commented: “The film was very beautiful and very interesting. A real eye-opener, proving communities can actually exist together. There is something we can learn whatever part of the world we are from. It generated an interesting conversation after.”
Catriona Robertson, convenor of the London Faith Boroughs Network (LFBN) and An executive member of the European Network on Religion and Belief (ENORB), said “I loved the film, because it is very particular. It doesn’t fall into the trap of generalisations.”
Dr AbdoolKarim Vakil, lecturer in Kings College London found “a wonderful film for opening up a window in a country and a context I don’t really know much about. I hope there will be a sequel of this movie.”
The Cordoba Foundation hopes with optimism that this film, questioning perceptions of cultural and religious differences, could foster a more lucid look onto the world’s 21st century multi-cultural society. The Cordoba Foundation is pleased that this event signals, hopefully, the beginning of future collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland.
The organisers thank the Polish Embassy in London for hosting the screening of this documentary at the embassy during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The event ended with a call to prayer and breaking of the fast (Iftaar), with a delicious Polish buffet.
Organized by Third World Network in collaboration with the Commonwealth Foundation
The Cordoba Foundation is providing resource people for the event
Objectives
1. To gain a deeper understanding of the expertise, strengths and comparative advantages
of existing and potential partners in the Asian Region
2. To gain a deeper understanding of the issues, gaps, opportunities and leadership in
participatory governance in the Asian Region
3. To develop a regional snapshot of the MDG priorities for acceleration and post 2015
framework building
4. To facilitate the identification of regional priorities on participatory governance and
development
Republic of Poland in London, the screening of the film and Iftaar (breaking of the fast) took place at the Polish Embassy in London on Thursday 18th July.
The event was moderated by by Dr Anas Altikriti, CEO of The Cordoba Foundation and opening remarks from His Excellency, Mr Witold Sobków, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in London.
film raises interesting and pertinent issues for discussion and debate. Precisions have been given especially on the general open-mindedness of the Polish society and government towards minorities, the activism of young Polish Muslims and the different Muslim representative organisations.
The organisers thank the Polish Embassy in London for hosting the screening of this documentary at the embassy during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The event ended with a call to prayer and breaking of the fast (Iftaar), with a delicious Polish buffet.
