A book launch of ‘7/7 Muslim Perspectives’ by Murtaza Shibli on July 7th in the House of Lords (UK). The Universal Peace Federation is supporting this event because it is part of the UPF’s vision to facilitate dialogue and understanding between communities. ‘7/7: Muslim Perspectives’ is composed of a collection of British Muslims who write about their personal experiences of the 7 July 2005 London bombings and reflect upon them. The book shows the wide range of attitudes and reactions in the community and how they negotiated its aftermath. These reflections illustrate the common humanity we all share and allows the audience to see beyond the media hype and hatred of fringe groups from all sides.The book is being published by Murtaza Shibli, the editor of the collection, through his company Rabita and will be launched on the anniversary of 7/7 at an event in a meeting room at the Palace of Westminster . The launch is also support by the European Muslim Research Centre, University of Exeter.
Confirmed speakers are Peter Oborne, Daily Mail columnist, Robert Lambert, University of Exeter, Ahmed Bashir, Civil Service Islamic Society, Mohammad Amin, Vice Chair, Conservative Muslim Forum and the Muslim Council of Britain.
Concept Note:
This project is designed to explore and articulate insights, reactions and experiences of a wide range of Muslim men and women following the events of 7/7 - their feelings, anxieties and concerns. As well as how they negotiated their own position with the mainstream and each other in the aftermath. They will reflect on the event and express their personal response, as well as the mainstream aversion of violence. This will serve as a starting point for an exploration of the challenges and expectations which the future holds for them.
As the contributors come from a diverse cultural and professional background, and a wide variety of spiritual practices, this project will offer a rich mosaic of lived experience, subjective accounts of people's hopes, worries and fears. In doing so, it will offer a deeper meaning and understanding of Muslim lives in this country - dispelling the myths of a 'fifth column' and of rampant extremism. It will serve equally to put into perspective Islamic extremist ideologies in fringe groups, and will disarm those who seek to portray Muslims as different from the rest of the society, based on a narrow interpretation and understanding of religious scriptures.
The book will offer a compelling range of testimony to those with an interest in the lives of Muslims - students, journalists, politicians, policy makers, academics etc. The benefits of this book are that it will give a voice to Muslims who are rarely heard, and an opportunity to disseminate those voices in such a way as to promote cross-cultural bonds and amity.
More information here.
