I have been invited by the multicultural magazine, Prisma, to debate on a panel of journalists, politicians and thinkers, the topic “Multiculturalism in the UK: Has it any future?”.

This will be the second debate on Multiculturalism I have participated in, the last one being in 2006. I hope to demonstrate that multiculturalism is a noble and enlightened idea, but not one Liberalism can live up to, or implement. Inevitably, the intolerance and totalitarian nature of Liberalism (and it’s adoption of Nationalism), will dictate what people can do or not do amongst their communities while living in a Liberal country – irrespective of whether or not they agree with Liberalism. Islam on the other hand, has had a history of convivencia (lit. living together) with people of different creeds and cultures, being allowed to live under their own beliefs and values, without interference from Muslims.

The debate should be interesting to say the least.

Some of my fellow panelists include,

– Mónica del Pilar Uribe (Founder, Managing Director and Editor-In-Chief of The Prisma), A Colombian journalist specialising in politics and human rights, author and co-author of several books on conflict resolution, workers and indigenous rights. Founder and director of Prisma magazine in Colombia, for which she was nominated for Best Contribution to Colombian Journalism, a ‘Simon Bolivar’ National Journalism Award. She has been invited as a special guest to a number of different international conferences to give talks on the conflict in Colombia, human rights, indigenous peoples in Latin America, mega-projects in Third World and independent journalism.

– Jeremy Corbyn MP (Panellist and host): Member of Parliament since 1983. Jeremy prioritizes human rights and the needs of the poor in his political platform focusing on issues concerning affordable housing, minority groups, and asylum-seekers and by promoting an agenda of peacekeeping around the world. Jeremy has attended and spoken at human rights peace conferences in Beijing, Mumbai, New Delhi, Rwanda, UN/Geneva and other parts of Europe).

– Zita Holbourne (Panellist): A trade union and community activist, a writer, poet and visual artist. Zita is a member of the PCS National Executive Committee, the TUC Race Relations Committee, Co-founder and National Co-Chair of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) UK, a member of One Society Many Cultures and a member of the National Executive Council of ACTSA (the successor organisation to the Anti Apartheid Movement). She is a contributor to the book Defending Multiculturalism and has used art and poetry to promote cultural awareness, equality, justice and black history and achievement. In 2012 Zita won the Positive Role Model Award at the National Diversity Awards.

– Claudio Chipana Gutiérrez (Panellist):Peruvian philosopher. He has participated in several international events on Latin American philosophy. His independent research projects have covered issues related to philosophy, Latin America, migration and multiculturalism. Founder of The Philosophy Cafe in London. He is a member and former coordinator in the Latin American Recognition Campaign (LARC) in London.

– Nigel Pocock (Panellist):  Social scientist and theologian, lecturer at a large number of institutions, mostly within the African and African-Caribbean community. Consultant to various bodies concerned with the legacy of slavery, and has assisted with material for the Wiltshire Museum Service, Bristol City Museum, BBC History On-line, Natural History Museum (Darwin and Slavery), and many others. His work has been published in various journals.

– Mike Jempson (Panellist): Author, journalist, lecturer and trainer. Currently a part-time senior lecturer in journalism at the University of the West of England, he has been Director of the journalism ethics charity MediaWise since 1996, and was Visiting Professor in Media Ethics at Lincoln University for 6 years. He is vice chair of the NUJ Ethics Council and has devised and delivered training programmes for journalists and NGOs in more than 45 countries – most recently in China, Egypt and Kazakhstan – working with UN agencies, the Media Diversity Institute and the International Federation of Journalists. He also edits Bristol Globe, an annual magazine celebrating diversity on behalf of the City of Sanctuary

The debate will take place on Thursday 9^th May 2013 in the House of Commons, from 6.30 pm until 8.30 pm.

For more information, please click here.

The full advert can be found here.

Categories: The Muslim Debate Initiative

Tags: abdullah al andalusi, The Muslim Debate Initiative