Foreign Policy is of interest to many British Muslims. So we’ve developed a dialogue with British Muslim communities as part of our wider programme of interactuion with different communities in the UK.
Our Ministers and senior officials are taking part in a series of meetings and events with Muslim organisations and communities throughout the UK during 2008 and beyond. The aim is engage in an informed debate on a wide range of foreign policy issues such as the Middle East Peace Process, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ministerial Interaction
Ministerial conversations with Muslim communities often take the form of open question and answer sessions with young British Muslims. The Foreign Secretary took part in two large ‘Question Time' style events in recent months, one hosted by the Young Foundation in Tower Hamlets and another in Birmingham. Feedback from these audiences has been very positive, with Muslim communities welcoming the opportunity to put their questions directly to the Foreign Secretary. We have more events planned for the coming year.
Interaction with FCO Directors, Ambassadors and High Commissioners
There are over 25 similar events with senior FCO officials planned for 2008. Senior official engagement, although on a smaller scale also aims to encourage debate and discussion on foreign policy and address misconceptions that may exist. The target audience is usually British Muslim youths. Senior officials have taken part in a range of these roundtable events over the past few months in Birmingham, Bradford, Blackburn, Lincoln and Burnley. We have more of these events planned across the UK over the coming months. Watch the videos to the right and above of David Miliband's visit to Tower Hamlets and Birmingham.
Watch videos of David Milband visiting Tower Hamlets [opens a new website] and Birmingham [opens a new website] on the British Sateliite News website.
Foreign Policy Briefings
Senior officials hold regular monthly briefings on a range of important foreign policy issues for British Muslims. Recent briefings have covered topics such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
For more information contact the Desk Officer for Engagement with British Muslim Communities: muslim.outreach@fco.gov.uk
