Over the past two years, we have worked to establish an extensive network of contacts with leaders and members of the various grassroots Muslim communities and with relevant government institutions. In order to ensure that we are able to facilitate a constructive and lasting interaction between these actors, we have developed relationships with grassroots communities based on trust, continuity and dialogue.
Forward Thinking does not represent any particular community or position, and seeks only to assist UK Muslims in becoming empowered to participate more fully and constructively both within their communities and in wider British society, and in doing so to fight the threats of discrimination, social exclusion and alienation. Forward Thinking will only work with a community that has expressed an interest, and will not seek to impose a dialogue process without prior introduction and a request from within the community for our assistance.
In the Middle East, Forward Thinking has developed a similar methodology, consisting of initiating and maintaining separate dialogue with key Israeli and Palestinian leaders, both liberal and conservative. This dialogue has the dual purpose of enabling us to learn more about their positions and interests, while at the same time allowing us increasingly to introduce them to policymakers within the international community and the positions held by their counterparts. Forward Thinking has succeeded in gaining the trust of faith-based and conservative leaders on both sides who have been excluded from dialogue and consultation. We are uniquely positioned therefore to engage with the new leaders on both sides in genuine unilateral dialogue, and encourage an inclusive environment, which could contribute in the future to an eventual lasting peace.
Forward Thinking, 84-86 Regent Street, London, W1B 5DD – Telephone +44 (0)20 7734 2303 Fax +44 (0)20 7494 2570