Cordoba Foundation
The Cordoba Foundation is a UK-based research and advisory group with the stated aim of “bridging the gap of understanding between the Muslim World and the West”.[1] The group has been criticized for its links to organizations suspected of terrorist activities, such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.[2]
History
The Cordoba Foundation was established in London in 2005 by Anas Al-Tikriti,[1] son of Osama Al-Tikriti who led the political party representing the Muslim Brotherhood in Iraq. Anas had previously served as president of the Muslim Association of Britain.[3]
Activities
The Cordoba Foundation carries out its mission through a variety of activities such as:[4]
- Lobbying and public relations training for Muslim leaders
- Building and maintaining a global network of partners in Muslim communities worldwide
- Organizing speaker tours and exchange trips for Muslim thinkers and students
- Research & publications on the themes of "Cosmopolitanism, Social Justice, Rapprochement of Cultures and Revisiting Theological Studies"
- Hosting conferences, colloquia and seminars on the group’s key areas of focus
Publications
The Cordoba Foundation publishes a variety of research papers and journals including:
- Arches Quarterly, a journal centered on analysis of current trends in Islamic-Western relations
- Occasional Papers, a series of policy papers featuring contributions from external experts and political leaders on the theme of cross-cultural exchange
- One-off reports on specific events or issues
- Tool kits for political activism, such as An Introduction to Effective Lobbying & Campaigning and Working with the Media: A guide for Muslim Groups.
Links with terrorism
Hamas
The leader of the Cordoba Foundation Anas Al-Tikriti has publicly supported Hamas and its methods.[5] In 2014, HSBC closed down the foundation’s UK bank account, as well as those of the Foundation’s leader Anas Al-Tikriti and his family. The closures were due to compliance concerns:[6] HSBC stated that continuing to provide services for the Foundation and those associated with it was “beyond the bank’s risk appetite”.[7]
The Muslim Brotherhood
The Foundation was designated a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates[8] due to its links to the Muslim Brotherhood. The Foundation was also cited as having links to the Muslim Brotherhood in reporting by Andrew Gilligan for the Sunday Telegraph[5] carried out in the run-up to the publication of the Jenkins Report, which gave the conclusions of an inquiry into the Brotherhood launched by British Prime Minister David Cameron.[6]
References
- 1 2 "About Us / Who We Are". The Cordoba Foundation. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ↑ Anas Altikriti. Wikipedia.
- ↑ Altikriti, Anas. "Full profile". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
- ↑ Foundation, The Cordoba. "What We Do | The Cordoba Foundation - Cultures in Dialogue". www.thecordobafoundation.com. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
- 1 2 "How the Muslim Brotherhood fits into a network of extremism". Retrieved 2015-08-03.
- 1 2 "Downing Street set to crack down on the Muslim Brotherhood". Retrieved 2015-08-03.
- ↑ Westrop, Samuel. "UK: HSBC Shuts Down Islamist Bank Accounts". Retrieved 2015-08-03.
- ↑ "UAE Cabinet approves list of designated terrorist organisations, groups | WAM". www.wam.ae. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
External links
- Cordoba Foundation Facebook page
- Cordoba Foundation's channel on YouTube
- Articles about Cordoba Foundation on BBC Watch