Wednesday, 23rd June 2010 The rise of the modern Islamic movements in the past four decades has given prominence to the political side of Islam. Most of these movements had raised the banner of Islamic rule as a manifestation of the applicability of the Sharia’ in the wider sense of the human life. In his book “The Muslim Revolt: A Journey Through Political Islam” Roger Hardy has presented his personal views on the experience, having benefited from two three decades of journalism, most of which has been with the BBC as a Middle East Analyst. In this lecture he explains how he sees the future of Political Islam in light of the many developments, successes and failures in various parts of the world?

Wednesday, 23rd June 2010 The rise of the modern Islamic movements in the past four decades has given prominence to the political side of Islam. Most of these movements had raised the banner of Islamic rule as a manifestation of the applicability of the Sharia’ in the wider sense of the human life. In his book “The Muslim Revolt: A Journey Through Political Islam” Roger Hardy has presented his personal views on the experience, having benefited from two three decades of journalism, most of which has been with the BBC as a Middle East Analyst. In this lecture he explains how he sees the future of Political Islam in light of the many developments, successes and failures in various parts of the world?

The crime committed against the Freedom Flotilla has shaken the human conscience and highlighted the dangers the Israeli state poses to peace and stability of the Middle East and beyond. What is the nature of this regime of occupation? Why is the West, especially the US sheltering it? Where will the situation lead to? Can Israel be entrusted with the weapons at its disposal including the nuclear arsenal? Isn’t time to remove the blockade on Gazza? Speakers Majed Al Zeer (Secretary General of the Palestinian Return Centre) Dr Ali Kabbany (Writer and journalist from Egypt) Dr James Thring (Convenor of Planning for Peace)

Tuesday, 11th May 2010 Majority Government or hung parliament, these elections promised to be the most exciting that we have seen in a long time. From the expenses scandal to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the biggest deficit in government budget, voters gave their verdict in a way that may change the British political skyline.

The elections; the environment and the bloody cost by Dr Ali Al Hilli* Nicholas Wood** The recent parliamentary elections are yet to lead to stability and modern statehood. But they are milestones in the long and bloody journey to modern statehood. What are the prospects of success? Wednesday, 7thApril 2010

Destined for Peace or Failure? Paddy Docherty* Author of Khyber Pass, History of empire & Invasion Robin Yasin-Kassab** The author of The Road to Damascus Wednesday 9th March,2010 Paddy Docherty: Mr Docherty showed slides from his travels in Afghanistan.

The example of Bahrain Joe Stork, Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa Division Joshua Colangelo-Bryan, a consultant with Human Rights Watch and Senior Attorney in the New York office of Dorsey & Whitney LLP Tuesday 9th February

Mohammad Kamali, Afshin Ratansi and Mustafa G. Abbas Wednesday, 27th January 2010 Chairman: The challenges faced by Iran have been quite enormous whether it was the eight-year war or the killing of virtually of all the members of parliament, the president and the prime minister.

The Rise of the Far Right in Europe & the Future of Race Relations Dr Jim Wolfrey* and Samuel Tarry** 2nd December Support for far right groups is exploding across Europe. With the world witnessing a financial crisis similar to the thirties that led to the rise of Hitler, far right parties are gaining a strong hold in the society.

Open Discussions and Abrar Foundation 'Not In My Back Yard' Saudi Arabia, the GCC & the Brewing Crisis in Yemen by Ginny Hill* November 3rd, 2009 I suggested quite a flippant title for my talk – apologies. I called it “not in my back yard” but it is clear that Yemen’s trajectory at the moment holds inherent risks for all members of the Gulf Co-operation Council and it is clear that the red light has gone on in the region’s capitals and there is great concern about Yemen’s unity and stability.

by Agha Murtaza Pooya* & Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed** September 22nd, 2009 An election dodged with uncertainty, increasing political tension within the region, deteriorating security situation resulting in heavy casualty numbers for coalition forces all indicate that the war in Afghanistan is more than the Coalition had bargained for.

by Sayed Mohammed Al-Musawi, Secretary-General of WABIL & Rebecca Masterton* When Ramadan begins, our inner life, its thoughts and feelings, are renewed and strengthened. Breezes of mercy, coming in different wavelengths, unite with our hopes and expectations, and penetrate our hearts. In the enchanting days and illumined nights of Ramadan, we feel as if all the obstacles blocking our way to God are removed and the hills on that way are levelled.

By Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri Tuesday, 21st July 2009 The preoccupation of the vast majority of people with their outer conditions is not in any way reprehensible, but it is deficient. Humanity faces issues the resolution of which cannot be reduced only to quantitative measures- more goods; more leisure; more technology- to feed the illusion of an unbridled self with limitless rights. Mankind has become ever more alienated from its other roots in the realm of the Unseen. The injunction of all the great spiritual traditions to witness the Signs of Creation in peoples' own selves is a fundamental requirement if an individual seeks the integral unity that lies at the heart of what it means to be a fully human being. The revitalisation of a true spiritual quest is now of critical importance if we are not to be overwhelmed by the very forces that we have set into motion. I would like to thank our friends and organisers, especially Said Shehabi, who made this gathering possible and to all of you who managed to take the time and effort to be here. And I hope and pray that it will be of some deep benefit for you to discover more and more about who you are, what is the meaning of life and what is the purpose behind of all the multitudes and pluralities of existence and how we can reconcile the infinite varieties of opposites of all the conflicting thoughts, actions and events that each one of us encounters in his life. I greet you from my heart and I talk to you with my head and tongue, backed by what is in my heart. Welcome. I think we all have the same paradox, the same challenge in this life: we want to be in a state of well being, contentment and happiness. We are all perusing happiness but we don't want it to be short-

Iran has experienced one of the most exciting elections since the revolution in 1979. A regime that has withstood many challenges, trials and tribulations in its short life is passing through one of its biggest challenges since the revolution. The Iranian people of which majority are under 30 have remained as dynamic as ever. Under the glare of the international community which is following Iran's each move, will the Islamic Republic defy its enemies predictions or succumb to the internal and external pressures? The Panel will discuss their experiences of their recent visit to Iran and deliberate over Iran's future and identity. with * Rev Frank Gelli, Dr James Thring & Rodney Shakespeare Wednesday, 15th July 2009 James Thring: Future Scenarios

Prospects for relations between the Western & Islamic Worlds’ by Stewart Eldon*CMG OBE Ambassador & Permanent Representative UKDEL NATO BRUSSELS 3rd June, 2009

Tuesday 26th May For years, the notion embodied in the phrase 'premised land' has been thrown around by supporters of the State of Israel to justify the takeover of Palestine by Zionist settlers. Biblical exegesis, anthropological evidence and theological scholarship have combined to challenge in the first place the claim of a certain piece of land within 'Canaan' being promised to the ancient Israelite tribes. Muslehuddin Ahmad has long puzzled over the various implications of the entire 'promised land' of what all three Abrahamic faiths consider the Holy Land. The author, Muslehuddin Ahmad while serving as a diplomat for his homeland, Bangladesh came to know intimately some contemporary aspects of the conflict in Palestine. He will discuss these and the notion of the Promised Land which has displaced millions of Palestinians and created a tragedy of immense proportion's that still haunts humanity today.

Professor Charles Tripp* 5th May, 2009 Chairman: The past six years have been extremely difficult to say the least for Iraq and its people. Tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children have been cold-bloodedly slaughtered in sectarian violence. Today, Iraq stands to build itself as a state, government and people.

Islam is alive as a faith in the inner lives of over a billion people, but its outer expression as a distinctive civilization has been undergoing a monumental crisis. Buffeted by imperialism, modernity, and globalization, Islamic civilization today is a shadow of its former self. Few Muslims live in societies that are truly Islamic in their governance, economies, legal systems, daily operations, or cultural production.

Open Discussions and Gulf Cultural Club Pakistan: the search for stability amid Talibanization, Terrorism and Political Pressures *Agha Murtaza Pooya, Senior Vice-President of Pakistans Awami Tehreek Kamal Hebawi Chairman: Increasing militancy spreading inwards from the Afghan border, and the inability of the government and military to encounter increasing terrorism within the country have brought Pakistan to the verge of collapse according to some experts.

Open discussions in conjunction with the Gulf Cultural Club Gaza Holocaust: A Travesty of Democracy, Justice, & Human Rights *Professor George Joffe *Daoud Abdullah Tuesday, 20th January 2009 Chairman: The ongoing slaughter of innocent Palestinians is causing uproar throughout the globe as Israel is internationally condemned for its brutal aggression. The stance of major powers including Britain and the US is viewed as an affront to decency and humanity.