Bridging the gap

12 August 2009
Our UK Director Huda Jawad and Youth Empowerment Officer Yusuf Tai facilitated a meeting between Ayatollahs Seyyed Mohammed Musawi (Secretary General of World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League), Seyyed Fadhil Al Milani (Dean of Islamic College NW London) and Seyyed Yousif Khoei (Director at Al Khoei Foundation headquarters in London) who travelled from London to meet with Sheikh Yakub Munshi, Director of the Islamic Research Institute of Dewsbury alongside officials from the Shariah Council and the Tablighi Markaz of Dewsbury.

This was the first time that the Shia delegation had visited Dewsbury (populated by a majority Sunni Muslim community) and met with it’s leaders. Forward Thinking along with the hosts in Dewsbury organised a day of visits and meetings to a number of mosques, community centres and the Shariah Council where discussions on the issues and concerns of the community took place as well as mutual learning on how best to meet the needs of the Muslim community and their relations with local government structures and the wider society.

Held in a spirit of cooperation and unity, the visit highlighted the willingness that everyone displayed to work toward the common good of their respective communities and wider society, given the current political climate which presents challenges for us all.

The visit concluded with agreement for the need for further dialogue and interaction. The Shia delegation expressed it’s desire to reciprocate Dewsbury community’s hospitality and arrange meetings in London to build on this dialogue and carry it forward,

Forward Thinking is delighted to have assisted in bringing diverse communities together for the common good and is committed to supporting this process in whatever way required.