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On the eve of the first anniversary of the re-establishment of Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive and legislative assembly, peacebuilders from across the world will share their perspectives, practice and experience of the challenges of peacebuilding.
Among the many international contributors attending the Springboard managed "Global Peace Builders Conference," is The Quilliam Foundation's Maajid Nawaz.
Maajid is founder and Director of the London-based Quilliam Foundation, a counter extremist think tank established in April, which seeks to challenge Islamist ideology and develop an Islam in harmony with its host society. A former member of Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, Maajid resigned his membership from the Party in May 2007 and in September 2007 he recanted Islamism on BBC’s flagship current affairs programme, Newsnight.
In the face of open criticism, by some sectors of the Islamic community, for having become a neo conservative or anti-Islamic secularist, Maajid has said that,
"Islam today is not in need of a politically inspired modernist reformation, which is actually the cause of our current crisis, rather a counter-reformation and a return to its true essence by Muslims insisting that their religion is not used merely to serve narrow political agendas."
In a recent Newsnight appearance Maajid clarified The Quilliam Foundation’s stance in light of this comment saying that the organisation sought to provide support for those Muslims who had concern for their faith but did not want to be dogmatic in their political views. Here in Northern Ireland - a country in which religious views have sometimes combined explosively with political agendas - the astute among us will clearly see the value in Maajid’s visit and contribution in the peacebuilding summit.
The summit will take place on 6 and 7 May in the Europa Hotel and is open to any individual, researcher, civic peacebuilder or organisation involved in peacebuilding.
For background information on all conference contributors or to download a registration form to attend, please visit - www.globalpeacebuilders.org.
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