If there is one thing that consistently defines this era that we are living in, it is the role of the media in how it not only shapes our politics, ideology and world view but also how it seeks to manipulate issues and narratives for its own goals. We all remember the concerted media campaign that preceded the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The political establishment and a large proportion of the general public were convinced that Iraq had a viable nuclear and chemical arsenal. The orchestrated media campaign by traditionally respectable media outlets like the BBC and the Sky Middle Eastern coverage tended to stoke-up fear in the hearts of the population. Some politicians genuinely believed that unless there was a pre-emptive attackon Saddam Hussain, our civilisation and our way of ’’life’’ were in mortal danger. We all know too well the consequences of the invasion. Likewise the Leveson Inquiry in the UK has called to question media ethics.
With the crises and incidents unfolding in Egypt, truth is once again the main victim — in the absence of real democratic institutions and an inherently-corrupt and unprofessional media. The loss of life over the past week — whilst utterly shocking — veers into insignificance compared to the web of lies that have been spun around to justify these killings by the government officials and those who back the military operation. What is even worse is the reception these lies seem to be getting in the West as figures are misquoted and justifications reiterated.
The flow of information from the official sources should not be taken at face value. Western leniency with the coup leaders in Egypt encouraged the army and security services to massacre hundreds of demonstrators in the streets of Cairo. These crimes were preceded by an unbelievable array of propaganda willingly reiterated by American and British officials in their briefings in the past few weeks. Take for example the American official who reaffirmed the outrageous Egyptian claim that 30 million people took to the streets of Cairo on the eve of June 30th to call for a military intervention and end Morsi’s rule.
The influence of the mass media on ordinary people in the Middle East is widely acknowledged. In the Egyptian case, money from the UAE and Saudi Arabia has fuelled a frenzied media attack on the nascent democratic institutions in Egypt to the extent that ordinary citizens were willing to sacrifice theirvote and political freedoms in order to end their miserable economic and social situation, so they were led to believe. Paradoxically the Saudi and the Arab Gulf states concentrated in their media campaign on the issue of the Western conspiracy with the Muslim Brotherhood to destabilise Egypt and sell its assets to foreign investors. They played on the ordinary people’s sentiments and religious sensitivities. They even claimed that the new democratic government in Egypt is in cahoots with the West and the Israelis.
Unfortunately most of the information about opposition movements in the Arab and Muslim world available to Western circles was amassed from security services and academic institutions linked to it. It was only in the last 30 years when large number of political activists and academics took refuge in the West that we saw certain changes in attitude towards a relative understanding of political Islam. At the same time the exposure to Western political theory and practice had a huge influence on the politics of the proponents of contemporary political Islam. The same strategy is followed by monarchic regimes and sheikhdoms in the Arab Gulf region. Although these regimes are considered pro-West, they support and give sustenance to religious clergy faithful to the regimes to demonise all what the Western democracies stand for. In the case of Egypt, we have witnessed how traditionally apoliticaland rejectionist trends like the Salafists have been used to defend and justify the military coup. Similarly, the head of Al-Azhar University, the most prestigious religious institution in the Muslim world, has not been spared. Here again, Western political, cultural and ethical ideals are the target. A barrier is erected between their people and international concepts such as democracy and free will.
The Egyptian military and the Gulf regimes used religious and cultural cleavages with the West to end the infant democratic experience. Unfortunately, they succeeded with an undeniable tacit approval by democratic governments in the West. This is evident of Western ancient religious sensitivities being undoubtedly intertwined with their contemporary politics.
Dr Fareed Sabri is head of the Middle East and North Africa Programme for The Cordoba Foundation
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
I expect people reading this to be quite busy and so I will forego the usual essay style and use a point format. As a preamble, there are two arguments I will not make. I will not argue that the President’s first year in office was mistake-free. There were many and the President alluded to some during his most recent speech before the coup. The second argument I will not make is that the coup has no popular support. Without a doubt, there is significant resentment among a considerable portion of the Egyptian population towards the President. Nevertheless, neither of those considerations – mistakes and alienating part of the electorate – constitutes reasonable grounds (if ever such an adjective could be used) for a military coup.
Coup apologists are using a number of accusations to justify the coup.
a. Egyptians lack the “basic mental ingredients” for democracy
b. President Morsy was not inclusive during his year in government and was unable to unite the country. But for the military coup, the country would have descended into chaos and civil war.
c. The President, and the Muslim Brotherhood, were intent on building an “illiberal” democracy, one where there was voting, but were human rights including freedom of speech and express as well as women rights are limited.
d. The economy was imploding due to the poor management of the country and the Army had to intervene.
e. This was not a coup. This was a popular uprising and the army merely supported the people a la February 11, 2011.
I will not distinguish (a) above with a response. The remainder of those arguments, even if there is some truth to them, is entirely without merit as a justification for a military coup that derails the democratic transition of the country.
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
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 provide an insight and analysis into the current situation in Egypt, examinining the concept of justice and democracy
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.
