The Bridge

July 2007, Issue No. 22 
The Journal of the Churches' Agency for Inter Faith Relations in Scotland

CAIRS Seminar at NEXUS
Andrew Sarle will be leading a seminar entitled "Building Bridges" at NEXUS, the 3 day event incorporating the Scottish Christian Resources Exhibition at the SECC in Glasgow from August 23-25.  The CAIRS seminar is at 3.45pm on Friday August 24.  If you plan to be at NEXUS, you're most welcome to attend the seminar -  I'd be glad to see a few friendly faces in the audience!  You can find out more about NEXUS here, and get tickets from the SECC box office, 0870 040 4000

Glasgow Airport aftermath
There have been many articles written in the past three weeks deploring the attempted car-bombing of Glasgow Airport.  Most have been very quick to express solidarity with the Scottish Muslim population, the vast majority of whom are moderate and every bit as outraged as the rest of Scotland.
Religious leaders issued a joint statement condemning the attack and supporting the Muslim population.  Politicians of all parties agreed.  The small number of 'reprisals' are to be regretted, but are the work of extremists: they do not reflect the views of the majority of Scots, who can see that the attack was not the work of Scottish Muslims, or supported in any way by Scottish Muslims.

Articles that you may find interesting include the following:
Reflecting on Glasgow's terror attack - meem Consultancy's Na'eem Raza, President of the Islamic Society of Britain (Glasgow) and a member of the Scottish Interfaith Council gives his reaction to the terror attack at Glasgow Airport.
BBC News

Religious Leaders' Joint Statement
Church of Scotland Media Unit

Muslims in anti-terror campaign
BBC News

Muslim voices on the bomb attacks (including Osama Saeed of the Muslim association of Britain - Scotland)
BBC News

'The fact that our beautiful religion can be so misused hurts us badly'
Scotland on Sunday

Petrol bomb attack on mosque may have been 'revenge' attack - A fire attack on a mosque in Bathgate, Glasgow, is being investigated amid concerns it was targeted in 'revenge' for the earlier attempted car bomb attack at Glasgow airport. 
BBC News

Scotland's nationalist-Muslim embrace - Scotland's establishment has responded to an abortive terrorist operation by reaffirming support for the country's Muslim minority. The silences as well as the words are politically significant, says Tom Gallagher.
Open Democracy

Discrimination & National Security Initiative Blog
DNSI


Relations with Other Faiths
is a newsletter by Iain Stewart, the Church of Scotland's newly appointed Inter-Faith Support Worker, whose main purpose is to offer advice and encouragement to local churches.  The focus of this first newsletter is Dharma Day, a Buddhist religious festival marking the beginning of Buddha's teaching.  The newsletter can be found here.


Letter on 1962 Missal Not Anti-Semitic
As a possibly unexpected by-product of authorising the celebration of the Tridentine (Latin) Mass, Pope Benedict has upset a number of Jewish organisations.  The Mass authorised includes prayers for the Jews, which prior to 1962 described them as 'perfidious' and prayed for their conversion.  The version that was reinstated, however, is less inflammatory, commending the Jews in the words, 'Let us pray for the Jewish people, the first to hear the word of God, that they may continue to grow in the love of his name and in faithfulness to his covenant.  Almighty and eternal God, long ago you gave your promise to Abraham and his posterity. Listen to your Church as we pray that the people you first made your own may arrive at the fullness of redemption.'

Links to some of the press statements:

Scottish Bishops welcome publication of liturgy document
Scottish Catholic Media Office, July 7, 2007

Pope Benedict XVI's apostolic letter concerning the Roman Missal promulgated by John XXIII in 1962, will not reinstate a prayer for the conversion of "perfidious Jews."
Zenit, July 6, 2007

Papal Letter on 1962 Missal
Zenit, July 7, 2007

Wiesenthal Center Condemns Antisemitic Schismatic Catholic Group, July 9, 2007


Religions united in football idea
THE beautiful game is to help build bridges between Edinburgh's religious communities with the launch of the city's first inter-faith football tournament. Tycoon Sir Tom Farmer has backed the planned Diversity Cup which will see teams of Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Christians compete in a five-a-side contest. The event is the brainchild of football-mad teenager Kiran Ali, who came up with the idea to raise money for a charity helping build houses in Central Asia. The Saughton 18-year-old then persuaded Kwik-Fit founder Sir Tom to support the tournament, which is being run by the Edinburgh Inter Faith Association. Sixteen teams will battle it out at the World of Football, at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange on Saturday, July 7. All the money raised from entrance fees and sponsorship will go to Habitats for Humanity, which helps homeless families in Kyrgyzstan.
Evening News, June 25, 2007


Hijab ban red-cards Muslim team
Scotland's first female Muslim football team has been prevented from playing competitive matches after soccer chiefs imposed a worldwide ban on wearing religious headdress during games. Ansar Women's FC, from the east end of Glasgow, were looking forward to their first league games this summer, until it became clear they could not play while wearing their hijab headscarves.
Scotland on Sunday, June 24, 2007


Islam and universities
The teaching of Islam in English universities is based on "out-of-date and irrelevant issues", a government commissioned report has concluded. Academic Ataullah Siddiqui's review paints a picture of Islamic studies departments where the post-9/11 and 7 July world has largely passed them by. It argues that more emphasis should be placed on Islam in a modern context. Ministers will now label Islamic studies a "strategic subject" because of its role "in preventing extremism".
BBC News, June 4, 2007.

Universities must employ Muslim chaplains or advisers and join forces with Islamic schools to break down widening divisions between British society and its Muslim communities, according to a senior Government adviser. In a wide-ranging review of Islamic university syllabuses and the support available to Muslim students in England, published today, Ataullah Siddiqui, will tell institutions that their teaching of Islamic studies is "out of date" and for years has been conducted "in isolation and probably in complete ignorance of the [Muslim] community".
The Times, June 4, 2007

A recent government report on how Islam is taught in British universities signals another step towards the Islamisation of Britain and its education system. It was launched by the [then] Prime Minister, Tony Blair, at the opening of the "Islam and Muslims in the World Today" conference sponsored by Cambridge University on 4 June 2007. Should this report be implemented, education will be handed over more and more to Muslims who will train and shape the next generation. This means a further move towards the establishment of Islam in the UK as a religion of state.
Barnabas Fund, June 22, 2007.

Ignore Islam, 'ex-Muslims' urge
A group saying it represents large numbers of "ex-Muslims" is urging policy-makers to ignore the faith. Campaigner Maryam Namazie said 25 founding members were being named at the body's Westminster launch, representing people scared to speak. The Council of ex-Muslims believes it represents the views of a majority of secular-minded Muslims in Europe.
The Muslim Council of Britain, the largest umbrella body in the UK, declined to comment on the launch.
BBC News, June 21, 2007

As we (Islamophobia Watch) have already pointed out, the Council of Ex-Muslims is a complete fraud. It's a front organization for the Worker Communist Party of Iran, an ultra-left sect most of whose leaders were never Muslims in the first place. It's just an excuse for the WPI to indulge in their obsessive and destructive propaganda against Islam.
Islamophobia Watch, June 22, 2007


Minority faiths in Malaysia criticise 'misuse' of religion
Members of five minority religious groups in Malaysia, including Christians and Hindus, have urged their government to take steps to prevent "personal tragedies" resulting from state policies that favour Islam, the official religion of this south-east Asian nation. In a document that describes the effects of a policy in which Muslims are prevented from converting to other religions, the minority religious groups say that some people are even sent to "rehabilitation camps where they are held and 're-educated' until they lose their desire to convert out of Islam". The grouping of religions minorities urged the government to allow freedom of religion to all people living in the country, and said it "prayed for a peaceful and just society which would find unity in diversity".
ENI, June 20, 2007

"Wife Swap" - religious families sought
Channel 4 is making a documentary series looking for families from diverse backgrounds and who are extremely passionate about their faith and its role in family life. We are looking for families who follow a religion or a structured belief system to take part in a brand new series of Channel 4's hit series "Wife Swap". The new series aims to provide an insight into how different cultures and communities lead family lives and how their morals and values reflect within the family. The ideal family would be parents who are passionate about faith and encourage their children to take part in their religious based interest and activities. We want to make a programme that would be uplifting and give viewers a real educational and insightful look into families where faith plays an important part. If you are interested or know families who embrace this opportunity then please either email Marcus English  or call him on his direct telephone line: 020 7013 4469.

Meem "Islam and Muslims" course
meem are a unique Scotland based consultancy focusing on faith & associated  cultures.

As part of our ongoing development program, we deliver training seminars on the diverse ethnic cultures and religions present in Scotland today.

For the coming months, we are delivering our next series of seminars on "Islam & Muslims" throughout Scotland.

This unique seminar is designed specifically for those who come into contact with Muslims regularly and need to understand their culture and way of life.

"The Islam and Muslims course was extremely informative. This one-day course provided valuable insights into a unique cultural and religious way of life within the Scottish community. The facilitators provided opportunities for questioning, debate and discussion in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. This is a course that is thought provoking and stimulating. It will help me to do my job better."

Attendees and clients vary from sectors as diverse as Service Providers, Voluntary, Charity, Ethnic Organisations, Media, Education, Housing Associations and Businesses.

Objectives 
Prevent racial and cultural stereotyping of Muslims through understanding of cultural and religious needs and issues. (Challenging Islamophobia) 
Promote confidence and competency of employees when working with Muslim clients and staff in the organisation. 
Identify mechanisms to develop culturally sensitive service provision within your area of work.

Content 
Statistical analysis of Muslims in Scotland 
 History of Muslims in Scotland 
Religious beliefs and practices 
 Muslim lifestyle and social structure 
Women & Islam 
Islam, Jihad and world affairs 
The Muslim client and colleague 
Marketing your services & building partnerships 
Recruitment & Retention 
Visiting Muslim Homes/Premises 
Question and Answer sessions 
Legislation around Religion & Belief 
Local Mosque Visit (Where available) 
Information packs and a copy of the Qur'an 
Lunch & refreshments

Dates and Locations 
Glenrothes - Tuesday, 28 August 2007 
Glasgow - Thursday, 30 August 2007 
Hamilton - Tuesday, 04 September 2007 
Edinburgh - Wednesday, 05 September 2007 
Aberdeen - Tuesday, 11 September 2007 
Stirling - Wednesday, 17 October 2007 
Isle of Skye - Wednesday, 24 October 2007 
Inverness - Wednesday, 31 October 2007 
Dundee - Wednesday, 07 November 2007 
Dumfries - Tuesday, 13 November 2007 
Oban - Tuesday, 20 November 2007 
Glasgow - Thursday, 22 November 2007 
Perth - Tuesday, 27 November 2007 
Edinburgh - Thursday, 29 November 2007 
Kilmarnock - Tuesday, 4 December 2007

View the full training course calendar on or book online here.
The course is available for in-house delivery personalised to your organisation's specific needs.
For further information and bookings/reservations, please contact us on: info@meem.biz or call 0700 5 963 932.  You can also visit meem's website.