Barred British Muslim launches lectures on religious understanding
-24/10/05
A UK lecture series to discuss how better religious understanding can help bring cohesion in the wider community was launched last week by Sheikh Dr Zaki Badawi, Islamic scholar and principal of the Muslim College in London.
Despite his widely publicised opposition to extremism, and his concern to explore the renewal of Islam in terms of contemporary European culture, Dr Badawi was barred from entering the USA earlier this summer ñ apparently under ëhomeland securityí rules.
Although an apology followed his treatment, no formal explanation was ever given by the US authorities as to why Dr Badawi was considered ëinadmissibleí. He was detained for six hours before being flown back to the UK.
The ëLearning to Live Togetherí Roscoe Lecture Series features talks by leading representatives from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. It aims to promote greater inter-faith dialogue and co-operation in the post-9/11 world.
The organizers say that the escalation of terrorist attacks both in the UK and elsewhere has thrown into sharp relief the interplay between religious beliefs and the need for different communities to co-exist in a free society.
The lectures are sponsored by Foundation for Citizenship at Liverpool John Moores University. They have been running for nine years on a variety of issues in public life.
Following the London bomb attacks in July 2005, Dr Zaki Badawi spoke alongside other British faith leaders, including Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, in a Multi-faith service of Remembrance and Hope.
Dr Badawi, who is also co-founder of The Three Faiths Forum, concluded the service by saying that the message of true religion was that ìif everyone were filled with love, there would be no room for hateî.
He is also involved with the Maimonides Foundation, which exists to ìfoster understanding, dialogue, and co-operation between Jews and Muslims through cultural, academic and educational programmes based on mutual respect and trust.î
The Roscoe lectures continue on 2 November 2005 with Mr David Bell, HMI Inspector of Schools; on 14 November with Rabbi Herschel Gluck, chair of the Council of Muslims and Jews; and on December 2005 with the Rev Dr John Newton, former chair of the Liverpool Methodist District.
William Roscoe was a social reformer, poet, historian, lawyer, banker, MP, Unitarian. Crossbench peer David Alton, who has played a large part in the development of the lectures, describes him as ëa true son of Liverpoolí.
[Also on Ekklesia: Beyond the politics of fear: a response to the 7/7 bomb attack]
Barred British Muslim launches lectures on religious understanding
-24/10/05
A UK lecture series to discuss how better religious understanding can help bring cohesion in the wider community was launched last week by Sheikh Dr Zaki Badawi, Islamic scholar and principal of the Muslim College in London.
Despite his widely publicised opposition to extremism, and his concern to explore the renewal of Islam in terms of contemporary European culture, Dr Badawi was barred from entering the USA earlier this summer – apparently under ëhomeland security’ rules.
Although an apology followed his treatment, no formal explanation was ever given by the US authorities as to why Dr Badawi was considered ëinadmissible’. He was detained for six hours before being flown back to the UK.
The ëLearning to Live Together’ Roscoe Lecture Series features talks by leading representatives from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. It aims to promote greater inter-faith dialogue and co-operation in the post-9/11 world.
The organizers say that the escalation of terrorist attacks both in the UK and elsewhere has thrown into sharp relief the interplay between religious beliefs and the need for different communities to co-exist in a free society.
The lectures are sponsored by Foundation for Citizenship at Liverpool John Moores University. They have been running for nine years on a variety of issues in public life.
Following the London bomb attacks in July 2005, Dr Zaki Badawi spoke alongside other British faith leaders, including Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, in a Multi-faith service of Remembrance and Hope.
Dr Badawi, who is also co-founder of The Three Faiths Forum, concluded the service by saying that the message of true religion was that ‘if everyone were filled with love, there would be no room for hate’.
He is also involved with the Maimonides Foundation, which exists to ‘foster understanding, dialogue, and co-operation between Jews and Muslims through cultural, academic and educational programmes based on mutual respect and trust.’
The Roscoe lectures continue on 2 November 2005 with Mr David Bell, HMI Inspector of Schools; on 14 November with Rabbi Herschel Gluck, chair of the Council of Muslims and Jews; and on December 2005 with the Rev Dr John Newton, former chair of the Liverpool Methodist District.
William Roscoe was a social reformer, poet, historian, lawyer, banker, MP, Unitarian. Crossbench peer David Alton, who has played a large part in the development of the lectures, describes him as ëa true son of Liverpool’.
[Also on Ekklesia: Beyond the politics of fear: a response to the 7/7 bomb attack]