Dec 15, 2014 | Policy Papers
Occasional Papers is a publication of The Cordoba Foundation that provides a medium for diverse opinions, presenting a comprehensive view of the myriad perspectives pertaining to dialogue and cross-cultural exchange. This is done by publishing important contributions by experts and world leader
This issue explores the role of civil society in post-2015 dvelopment architecture from the perspective of equitable growth and inclusive development through insights from Dr Jemilah Mahmood, founder of MERCY Malaysia.
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Dec 3, 2014 | External Events
Nov 17, 2014 | News & Press
THE CORDOBA FOUNDATION
17 November, 2014
UAE ‘Terrorist Organisation’ list is farcical
The Cordoba Foundation (TCF), following the implementation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Federal Law No. 7 of 2014, ratified by the UAE Cabinet in which 83 organisations, groups and associations from around the world, are designated as terrorist, rejects such an unprecedented and irresponsible move and condemns the motives behind such a draconian measure.
TCF is a prominent UK based Think Tank, with an established and significant track record in conflict resolution, hostage negotiation, and the promotion of dialogue over the last decade. TCF rejects wholeheartedly any such libellous accusations, and expresses its profound shock that there are those that would seek to designate it as such.
To list TCF along the likes of Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, and ISIL, is not only a cause for libel but a dangerous precedent given that groups which espouse extreme violence as a means to realise political goals are listed alongside those who reject such methods as a point of principle in their unshakable values.
All countries have a responsibility to fight terrorism and take the appropriate preventative and proper legal measures to address this threat; however, using legislation to target legitimate organisations is counter-productive.
It is no coincidence that groups that have legitimate, acceptable aims, have been placed on to the ‘terrorist’ list, given that all of these groups have criticised the UAE for their lack of observation of human rights, and the violent oppression of their own citizens.
It is evident that the UAE have become agitated given the barrage of international opposition to oppression, anti-reform, and anti-democratic policies within its own borders and beyond, namely Egypt, Libya, and Yemen.
The inclusion of TCF amongst other legitimate groups in such a list is an absurd step that does not take into account its clear ramifications, namely tarnishing the image of a respectable and successful organisation. To group TCF and others in the same list as extremist organisations such as Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, and ISIL, is shameful, and cannot be justified, it is simply another example of a despotic regime seeking to silence any form of dissent.
TCF considers the moves taken by the UAE extremely seriously and will immediately take steps to ensure that its reputation is restored and compensation sought for the damage caused through all appropriate means.
TCF calls upon the UK Government to shoulder its responsibility and stand side-by-side with the legitimate and reputable British organisations operating within the UK, such as TCF, against the libellous actions of an autocratic regime that has a clear agenda to oppress, violate human rights, and stifle democracy and fundamental freedoms.
[End]
Notes to editors:
1. The Cordoba Foundation is an independent strategic think tank aimed at promoting intercultural dialogue and positive coexistence, through a range of activities including research and publications, training and capacity building, policy briefings and dialogues. The Foundation takes its name from the city of Cordoba. The European metropolis was once a symbol of human excellence and intellectual ingenuity, where cultures, civilizations and ideas thrived. Embodying this spirit, TCF today facilitates the meeting of minds, to advance understanding and respect for one another.
2. Media and interview requests, contact: info@thecordobafoundation.com | 020 8991 3372 | http://thecordobafoundation.com
Oct 31, 2014 | News & Press
Advance notice of a special ENORB UK event for Inter Faith Week 2014
WHEN? Wednesday 12 November 10am – 12 noon
WHO? Andrew Copson, CEO of the British Humanist Association*
WHAT? Humanism, Laïcité, Atheism, Secularism across Europe: how do we work together across religious & belief traditions for fair treatment for all?
WHERE? Europe House, Smith Square, SW1P 3EU
Oct 27, 2014 | Events
The Cordoba Foundation, London Peace Network & Faith-based Regeneration Network present:
Peace Cafes
“A convivial moment for sharing inspiring thoughts.”
The inaugural session will be held on
Monday 1st of December 2015, from 5:00PM
at the Collaboration House, 77 Charlotte Street, London W1T 4PW.
Supported by Christian Muslim Forum, Muslim Council of Britain, Religions for Peace, Al-Khoei Foundation, Quakers, Peace One Day, UN Westminster and others.
Free entry. All welcome. No registration needed.
Oct 2, 2014 | News & Press
he Cordoba Foundation
PRESS RELEASE
1st of October, 2014
MOAZZAM BEGG EXONERATED
ONCE AGAIN FAILED ANTI-TERROR POLICIES CONTINUE TO PUNISH INNOCENT CITIZENS
The Cordoba Foundation (TCF) welcomes the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to drop all charges of terrorism-related offences against Moazzam Begg. The release from prison today of Begg, once an innocent detainee of Guantanamo Bay, an author and a prominent British human rights campaigner, comes as a great relief to his family and friends, as well as the vast community who knew him and never believed for a second that he might have been guilty. Begg was arrested in the West Midlands, on the 25th of February 2014 on suspicion of “attending a terrorist training camp” and “facilitating terrorism overseas”.
TCF warned at the time that Begg’s arrest was politically-motivated and was the culmination of a long campaign of harassment from the UK authorities, including being prevented from attending events he was invited to abroad and the confiscation of his passport on numerous occasions.
TCF has a long-standing working relationship with Begg and the human rights and advocacy group CAGE. Dr Anas Altikriti, CEO of The Cordoba Foundation said:
“Moazzam is a close aide to The Cordoba Foundation; we have been collaborating on several projects over many years specifically addressing issues relating to human rights violations perpetrated under the pretext of the so-called War on Terror, the criminalisation of the Muslim community, but more importantly, fighting for the rights of those illegally detained. Moazzam is a leading light in this field and is a well-respected personality in not only the British Muslim community but across British society, as the huge numbers of messages of congratulations and celebration show. Indeed, many of those messages were received from all corners of the world”.
Altikriti further commented that “it seems absurd that someone of Moazzam’s stature was accused of supporting terrorism, despite being a strong voice against extremism, and someone who has always encouraged Muslims and the wider community to become engaged with the local and national legal and political processes. I find it strange how someone viewed as an antidote to extremism and radicalisation, became himself, a victim of the ‘War on Terror…’”.
TCF believes that Begg’s unjustifiable incarceration, for the second time in his life-time, is representative of the fruits of the failed Prevent programme and anti-terror legislations which must be abandoned, for driving communities apart and creating a culture of fear rather than one of safety and security. This also highlights the dangers of home secretary Theresa May’s call this week for the abandoning of the Human Rights Act.
[Ends]
Notes to editors:
1. The Cordoba Foundation is an independent strategic think tank aimed at promoting intercultural dialogue and positive coexistence, through a range of activities including research and publications, training and capacity building, policy briefings and dialogues. The Foundation takes its name from the city of Cordoba. The European metropolis was once a symbol of human excellence and intellectual ingenuity, where cultures, civilizations and ideas thrived. Embodying this spirit, TCF today facilitates the meeting of minds, to advance understanding and respect for one another.
2. Media and interview requests, contact: info@thecordobafoundation.com | 020 8991 3372 | http://thecordobafoundation.com
Sep 16, 2014 | News & Press
THE CORDOBA FOUNDATION, LONDON PEACE NETWORK AND FAITH-BASED REGENERATION NETWORK
MEDIA RELEASE AND EVENT REPORT
16 September, 2014
London Peace Conference – no topics off limits
The Cordoba Foundation (TCF), London Peace Network (LPN) and the Faith-based Regeneration Network (FbRN) convened a peace conference yesterday at the historic St. Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, in London.
Commemorating the United Nations International Day of Peace, this timely conference was supported by a number of prominent organisations representing a broad spectrum of religious, specialist and community organisations, including the Christian Muslim Forum, Muslim Council of Britain, Religions for Peace, Al-Khoei Foundation, The Quakers, Peace One Day, and the UNA Westminster.
From the crises in the Middle East, to reducing conflict in our homes and streets, the conference engaged scholars, experts, faith and community leaders to discuss the limits and challenges of grassroots peace endeavours, as well as learning peace-building skills, and exploring conceptual frameworks governing peace and dialogue.
The conference was jointly opened by Dr Anas Altikriti, Chief Execof The Cordoba Foundation and Catriona Robertson, Convener of the London Peace Network. Lord Michael Bates, who was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office in August 2014 and currently on his Walk for Peace to Berlin, sent a special message,
“It is all too easy to look around the world and get depressed about the cause of peace, but it is said it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness: that is exactly what the London Peace Network is seeking to do and I applaud them for it and would encourage all those who care about peace to join in.”
The morning keynote speeches were delivered by Imam Shafiur-Rahman, Director of Jibreel Institute in London, who talked about developing a framework for peace-building. Jo Berry, founder of Building Bridges for Peace, relayed her personal trauma and awakening following the killing of her father in an IRA bomb by Pat Magee. Her preparedness to try to understand Magee opened a path to empathy that continues to develop today, and this unusual relationship has been told in the BBC documentary “Facing the Enemy”, and featured in the film “Beyond Right and Wrong”, and inspired “The Bomb”, a play by Kevin Dyer.
Other notable contributions came from Chani Smith, Secretary, Friends of the Bereaved Families Forum; Rt Hon Clare Short, Former Secretary of State; Rabbi Natan Levy, Board of Deputies of British Jews; Revd Nadim Nassar, Director of the Awareness Foundation; Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary-General, Muslim Council of Britain;Keith Kahn-Harris, Sociologist and Author; Aliya Azam, Al Khoei Foundation; Jehangir Sarosh OBE, Religions for Peace UK; Rosalind Parker, Kings College London; and Julian Bond, Christian Muslim Forum. The closing address was delivered by Marigold Bentley, Assistant General Secretary, Quaker Peace & Social Witness.
The conference combined a mixture of skills-based workshops, thematic panel discussions, films (MUJU Crew), a performance by school students from the Khalsa Secondary Academy, Stoke Poges, and interactive sessions moderated by Steve Miller, Faith-based Regeneration Network and Angharad Thain, St Ethelburga’s.
The organisers proposed a draft statement of practical intent and commitment to peace-building in the 21st century, which stated the following,
“We recognise that peace is not just an absence of conflict but is about building a world where all can flourish without fear.
We know that fear and violence prosper in a world of ignorance and mistrust where we demonise the ‘other’ and mistakenly elevate ourselves as superior; whether that is across nations and peoples, in our streets and communities, or even in our own homes.
Disputes exist, injustice exists, exploitation exists – we know that these things are real in the world and words alone cannot solve these problems.
But, coming together today, we dedicate ourselves to find peaceful ways to pursue justice, to stand up and be active, and to use our joint energies and influence for creative and not destructive outcomes”.
Bringing the conference to a formal close, Abdullah Faliq, Head of Research at The Cordoba Foundation thanked all for making the conference a success and highlighted its significance: “unlike other conferences that tend to avoid serious and important issues because of political correctness, fear and intimidation, in this conference no issues are off limits. However this conference is only the start, its success depends on how it is followed up”.
[Ends]
Notes to editors:
1. Pictures from the conference available here: (Click to access album).
2. Conference pack, including full programme, speakers profiles, background to organisers available here: (Click to download).
3. Media and interview requests, contact:
The Cordoba Foundation: info@thecordobafoundation.com | 020 8991 3372 | http://thecordobafoundation.com
Faith-based Regeneration Network: info@fbrn.org.uk | 020 7840 0138 | http://www.fbrn.org.uk/
London Peace Network: convener@lbfn.org | http://londonpeacenetwork.org/| 07903 682 142
4. Flights for Peace
Sep 13, 2014 | Events
Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK presents…
THE BLOODSHED:
Political Detentions
in Egypt Post-Military Coup
A new report documenting mass human rights abuses, torture and political detentions by the Egyptian authorities following the military coup of summer 2013.
Thursday 25 September, 2014
6:30pm-9pm
The Frontline Club
13 Norfolk Place, London W2 1QJ
Nearest tube: Paddington
Speakers:
Dr Anne Alexander
Academic and writer; author of a biography of Gamal Abdel-Nasser (Haus, 2005), and co-author of Bread, Freedom, Social Justice: Workers and the Egyptian Revolution (forthcoming).
Nabila Ramdani
An award-winning French-Algerian journalist, columnist, and broadcaster who specialises in French politics, Islamic affairs, and the Arab World.
Toby Cadman
International law specialist in the field of war crimes, human rights, terrorism and extradition
Alastair SLOAN
Al Jazeera columnist and regular contributor to The Guardian
David Hearst
Editor of the Middle East Eye; former chief foreign leader writer for The Guardian.
Mohammed Jamil
Director, AOHR-UK
All welcome. Limited space.
Register:
http://aohr.eventbrite.co.uk
07778677132 – info@aohr.org.uk – www.aohr.org.uk
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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