Where: Dialogue Society, London
by Cllr Fiyaz Mughal

Abstract

There are growing tensions between Hindu, Sikh and Muslim communities and the current situation in India will no doubt exacerbate tensions. There are opportunities for alliances and real pitfalls in the way that these faith communities are interacting. The future is one of dialogue, mutual understanding, standing up to extremism and developing joint civil society work that takes on the issues causing tensions. Part of the talk will explore ways in which the three communities can work together to overcome tensions and facilitate better relations.

Biography

Currently, Fiyaz is a Councillor in Haringey. A previous Deputy President of a mainstream political party in the UK, he campaigned heavily on Black and Minority Ethnic (group) inclusion within political parties and discourses. He was appointed to be on the Working Group for Communities that was linked to the Extremism Task Force developed in 2005 after the 7/7 bombings. In early 2008, Fiyaz became an elected member of IDeA Peer Mentor for national work with local authorities on the Preventing Violent Extremism agenda.

Fiyaz has recently been appointed by the Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government to be a member of the Local Delivery Advisory Group on Preventing Violent Extremism. More recently, he has been appointed as the Advisor to the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg MP, on interfaith and preventing radicalism and extremism.