United Kingdom’s Islamic Advisory Group scheduled to Visit Indonesia

The UK Islamic Advisory Group is a scheduled to meet their Indonesian counterparts in Jakarta from 12th to 15th June 2007.

Their programme of activities include visits to a number of Islamic educational institutions and major religious organisations such as Muhammadiyah and Nadhatul Ulama. They are also scheduled to pay courtesy calls on President Susilo B. Yudhoyono, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, as well as Minister of Religious Affairs, Maftuh Basyuni. 

Members of the Group will also attend plenary discussions with their Indonesian counterparts to produce the final set of recommendations, which will contain further details of the proposed activities to be conducted by the both governments.

The UK-Indonesian Islamic Advisory Group was established to deliver recommendations to the UK and Indonesian governments, to how to counter the narrative of religious extremism, promote Islam as a religion of peace, mercy and tolerance, and, encourage better understanding of Islam and the West.

The UK Islamic Advisory Group consists of seven British Muslim public figures from a range of professional backgrounds. They are Dr. Musharraf Hussain  (Lecturer/Director of Karimia Institute), Asim Siddiqui (Chartered Accountant), Sheikh Muhammad Bilal Abdallah (Educational Director of Ebrahim Community College), Moulana Shahid Raza (Deputy Director of the Muslim College in London), Sabira Lakha (Muslim women activist), Mishal Husain (BBC) and Yusuf Islam(Artist/singer).

During their three day meeting in London in the last week of January 2007, members from both sides held a series of discussions, drawing up their Preliminary Recommendations. These were submitted to the UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and the Indonesia Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, who was in London to attend the First UK-Indonesian Partnership Forum.