C-1 MEDIA BRIEFING C-1 MEDIA BRIEFING
THE C-1 WORLD DIALOGUE
Improving relations
between the Muslim and Western Worlds
His Excellency and The Rt Revd and Rt Hon.
Dr. Ali Gomaa Dr. Richard Chartres
The Grand Mufti of Egypt The Bishop of London
THE CO-CHAIRS of THE C-1 WORLD DIALOGUE
Address the tragic events in Gojra Pakistan:
Statement by The Co-Chairs: His Excellency Dr Ali Gomaa Grand Mufti of Egypt,
&
The Rt Revd. and Rt. Hon. Richard Chartres, D.D. F.S.A, The Bishop of London
On behalf of the C-1 World Dialogue we deplore the recent terrible events in Gojra Pakistan where at least seven Pakistani Christians were killed and many more wounded in a terrible attack.
We stand with those whose lives and property have been damaged and we grieve with those who mourn. The taking of innocent lives, including those of children is deeply shocking. Murder, arson and theft committed in the Name of God is both a crime and sacrilege. The perpetrators of this attack have committed a crime not only against Christians but against Pakistan and beyond even that, against the honor and dignity of Islam
We call upon all to join us in prayer for those affected and for a better and peaceful future for all the communities of Pakistan.
What matters now is not merely that those who did this are brought to justice, but also that longer term problems are addressed. Security and protection for all religious minorities everywhere is a basic requirement that must be fulfilled.
It would seem that false rumours were used to inflame those who launched the attack. It is important that what is sacred in religion should not be abused, but it is also vital that there is proper protection from false and malicious allegations and such formal protections as this may require. We call upon all pastors and imams in every mosque and church to speak out against these deeds and to spread the true message of cooperation harmony and peace
We urge too, that schools and all places of education must teach the message of tolerance and cooperation so that we can overcome differences and together build a more secure future for all
The Common Word Open Letter highlighted two principles that all people of good will can share, whatever their religion is, namely that we must love God and our neighbour. We call upon everyone everywhere to ask themselves if they are living out these commandments and to explore how they can do so more fully.
The Director General of the C-1, Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff has been able to make a visit to Gojra and has given us a first hand account and we are grateful for the help he
received from the Governor of the Punjab and others in Pakistan to make this possible.
On behalf of the C-1 we stand ready to assist in any way that can help the government and people of Pakistan spread the message of peace and cooperation between all peoples and communities whatever their religion is. We hope we shall be able to make a visit to show practical solidarity in due course.
We welcome in particular the statements of religious leaders, both Christian and Muslim, in Pakistan that condemn the perpetrators of these evil deeds and call upon all in leadership to speak with one voice and to act in unity to halt those who sow hatred in place of the love of God.
For any further information please contact
Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff at amacrad@hotmail.com +20 167 1919 24 or from the 11th +44 17968 030 138
The Members of the Executive of the C-1 World Dialogue are set out below
Additional Members of the Executive Committee
His Beatitude Theofilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem His Eminence Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, (Special Advisor) His Excellency,. the Grand Mufti of Bosnia, Mustafa Ceric,
H.R.H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, Personal Envoy and Special Advisor to H.M.King Abdullah II
of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, President of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute
The Most Revd. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin
The Rt Hon. Tony Blair, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and
President of the General Conference of the C-1
Mr Timothy Collins, chief executive officer of Ripplewood Holdings LLC.
Mr Kai Diekmann Editor of Bild (Germany), Executive Board of Huฬrriyet (Turkey) Robert Eisen, Professor of Religion and Judaic Studies George Washington University Mrs Mary Eisenhower, President of People-to-People (USA) PF
John Esposito, Professor of Islamic Studies and Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University
David Ford, Regius Professor of Divinity, Cambridge
John DeGioia, President of Georgetown University
Anthony C. Grayling Professor of Philosophy, Birkbeck College, University of London.
Mr. Nakhle El Hage, Editor in Chief, al Arabiya
Professor Ibrahim Kalin, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister of Turkey. Seyyed Jawad al-Khoei, Assistant Secretary-General of the Al-Khoei Foundation Mr. Roland Schatz, President of Media Tenor, Switzerland
S.Abdallah Schleifer, Emeritus Professor of Journalism, American University of Cairo Muna Abu Suleyman, Secretary General of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation Miroslav Volf, Henry B. Wright Professor of Systematic Theology, Yale University Canon A. Macdonald-Radcliff, Director-General of the C-1,
Mr Haris Hromic NewYork (Special Advisor for Global Strategy)
The Mission, Vision and Goals of the C-1 World Dialogue
The C-1 World Dialogue is an initiative that has its origins in the Council of One Hundred Leaders (C-100) West-Islamic Dialogue originally launched by the World Economic Forum in response to the tragedy of 9/11.
The C-1 World Dialogue is now an autonomous body from the WEF with an institutional base as a Swiss Foundation. It is multi-stakeholder community that engages public figures, business and religious leaders, as well as NGOโs and media leaders. At present one of its main activities is the provision of data and resources in support of more effective Muslim West dialogue To this end it publishes an Annual Dialogue Report of which the first edition (about to be replaced by the second) for
2009 is available at www.mediatenor.com, the web site of one of the partner
corporations Media Tenor which is Europeโs largest media tracking and research organization.
The Charter states that the overall Mission and Vision of the C-1 World Dialogue
โis to support and promote, propagate and preserve, peace harmony and friendship between the Western and Islamic Worldsโ
And
โto do this in accord with the two greatest Commandments given us: to love God and our fellow neighbour โ as called for by the historic A Common Word open letter of October 13th 2007.โ
The C-1 seeks to catalyse work engaging cultures and societies at all levels and
– to be a primary knowledge base and source of strategic insight through its
Annual Dialogue Report;
– to improve the mutual understanding in and between cultures and religions;
– to bring together those engaged in dialogue who wish to share insights and ideas that can enhance practical initiatives;
– to promote partnerships and collaboration between the various sectors of society and across cultures (including governments, private sector, media, civil society, religious communities and academia);
– to catalyse new projects and to mobilize additional support for existing work with proven record of successโ
The successive Annual Dialogue Reports will provide a cumulative body of data and resources, together with research, commentary and analysis that will provide the knowledge-base for the actions needed to achieve sustainably improved Muslim-West relations that are conducive to peace, stability and mutual flourishing.
—END