Annex B

Annex C - internal reports

COMMENT

2. Post hosted a delegation of six prominent British Muslims from 3-6 March, as part of the Projecting British Islam (PBI) programme, a key element of CTD's Prevent strategy. The aims of the visit were: to project a dynamic and inclusive view of Islam in a multi-cultural Britain, to counter extremist narrative and misconceptions about the UK and to strengthen understanding and partnerships.

3. The delegation comprised a cross section of young successful professionals with a comprehensive mix of academics, community activists, writers/opinion formers and youth workers.

4. The programme included discussions with high school and Madrassah students in Bogor and with university students and academics at the Masjid Salman Mosque and the State Islamic University in Bandung. The delegation also visited one of the largest Islamic publishing houses in Indonesia. A particular highlight was meeting about 70 women members of a Majelis Taklim (Koranic study group) in Tangerang - a town close to Jakarta which has recently adopted a number of so called Sharia by-laws. The visit culminated in in-depth discussions with representatives of the Wahid Institute, focusing on the dynamics of Indonesian Islam, issues surrounding the imposition of Sharia law in Indonesia and shared UK Indonesian experiences of countering the threat from violent extremism.

Key Impressions:

5. The delegates were struck by the generally low level of understanding of the ethnic and religious diversity in the UK. This perhaps reflected the restrictions on religious freedom during the Suharto years in Indonesia.

6. Alongside this some complex themes emerged: How best to bring Islamic perspectives to bear on government decision-making?; Nationalism - is it possible to be a Moslem and feel truly British?; How can Islam be made more relevant to the youth and challenges of the day eg tackling corruption?; How do British Moslems tackle misconceptions about their faith, especially post 9/11?

7. Indonesian interlocutors were less focused on UK foreign policy than might have been expected. Afghanistan and Iraq were raised but in the context of an expectation that British foreign policy was taking a different, `softer approach' under the current government. Some interlocutors expressed a desire for Indonesia to exert its influence more on the world stage. As the world's most populous Muslim country there was a certain frustration at the Arab world's tendancy to claim `ownership' of Islam. The British delegates were impressed by the level of Indonesian female participation in the meetings and repeated assurances that gender inequality was not a real concern.

8. The Indonesians recognised the shared threat from violent extremism and the need to think creatively about prevention, especially amongst vulnerable communities. The delegate's messages around tolerance and the struggle for spiritual Jihad as opposed to violent Jihad ran true with the values of many Indonesians. Promoting mainstream voices and understanding were recognised as a key element in developing more robust barriers to the spread of extremist ideology in Indonesia and the UK.

Media Coverage

9. Media coverage, both TV and print media was extensive. Interviews with Metro tv and TVRI (state-run tv), as well as Republika and the Jakarta Post newspapers were conducted and broadcast on 3 and 5 March. These set the scene for the visit as well as providing opportunities for key messages around tolerance and mutual respect between faiths. The front page of the Jakarta Post on 6 March featured a prominent photograph of the delegates meeting women in a mosque and the newspaper's website currently has the article posted on its home page (www.thejakartapost.com).

Comment

10. [Information redacted] This was a well received delegation which undoubtedly helped to build ties between our respective Muslim communities - all be it ones which are mirror images in terms of numerical dominance within their societies. The delegates engaged fully in terms of their personal and spiritual journeys as well as their wider political and social viewpoints, which our Indonesian hosts warmed to.

11. We should aim to build further on these PBI visits, with a focus on both high level political interventions as well as contact with grassroots activists. [Information redacted].

Other recent Prevent activities include:

12. From 17-23 February the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted an inter-faith delegation from the UK, a spin-off from the successful UK-Indonesia Islamic Advisory Group's work. They met the leadership of the two largest Islamic organisations in Indonesia: Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, as well as visiting churches and mosques in Jakarta. I hosted the group and other guests before they departed for Yogyakarta for meetings with inter-faith practitioners and visits to a Buddhist monastery and Christian and Islamic boarding schools.

13. In Yogyakarta on 18 February I launched the latest leg of the Peter Sanders exhibition of photographs of British Islam. This was the third stop on an extensive tour of the exhibition around Indonesia and was hosted at the eminent Gadjah Mada univeristy in Yogyakarta. The event enjoyed wide media coverage

14. Finally on 20 February we despatched the latest cohort of Deputy Heads of Pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) to Leeds University where they will attend a specially designed GOF-funded course which looks at UK best practice in the fields of education management and curriculum development

DETAIL

COMMENT

PERCEPTIONS OF BRITAIN AND BRITISH MUSLIMS

ISLAMIC VALUES

DUTCH FILM REACTIONS

MEDIA

COMMENT

Not for EU partners

1. Islamabad's third Promoting British Islam delegation, all of Pakistani origin, visited between 1 and 7 June. The programme included outreach activity in Islamabad, Mirpur, Jhelum and Rawalpindi, providing opportunities to engage with a range of people, particularly students. They spent an hour with the Foreign Minister, XXX, who described his pleasure to talk in depth with young British Pakistanis, as opposed to the older generation he normally has to spend time with. XXX said he was looking forward to continuing that conversation when he visits the UK later this month. This records the main issues the delegation encountered, and offers some comment about how to use their impressions and advice in our future work.

2. One of our short-term Prevent aims is to prioritise regions that play a role in radicalisation with a direct impact on the UK. Mirpur, and other "ancestral regions" in and around Pakistani-administered Kashmir, are such priority regions for the UK. The delegation's visit there gave us access to people with probably the greatest familiarity with the UK, given that the majority of British Pakistanis have family links to this part of the country. Influencers in Mirpur can play a real role in stopping British Pakistani extremists using the region as a springboard to terrorist training elsewhere in Pakistan. Convincing them that we have a shared interest in doing so is important. Helping build their resilience to do so is something we are actively exploring, at the same time as conducting research and wider outreach in the region to identify the key influencers.

3. Despite this strong link with the UK, the delegation faced issues in Mirpur that they found everywhere in their visit: that Islam was under attack in the West, that there was no role for Muslims to play in countering extremism, and that people were disappointed with and angry about the UK's foreign policies. Such ideas, common across the class divides, along with the most elaborate of conspiracy theories, were accurately described by one delegate as symptoms of Muslim denial, that he had found as much in parts of the British Muslim community as in Pakistan. That said, they did also find cause for optimism: madrassa administrators being trained by the British Council in Peshawar as part of a Strategic Priority Fund (SPF) project talked about themselves as not being opposed to reform, quoting an Islamic tradition of "seeking benefit wherever it can be found". Others described an intellectual distinction between the UK with its tradition of tolerance and learning, and the more recent image of the UK associated with foreign policy that they considered ill-judged. [Information redacted]

What worked well

4. The delegation, carefully selected from a range of professional and social backgrounds, quickly learnt that most of their time was spent dispelling myths about the UK, whether informing young madrassa students that yes, there were mosques in the UK (1600, and growing, as I mentioned in a speech at a reception given for them) or explaining that differences between the general public and the government on issues such as Iraq were dealt with peacefully and through force of argument. This role as myth-buster was amplified through a busy media programme: their 45 minute appearance on 'Live with Talat' will have reached a viewership of 300 million Pakistanis, and the reception I held showcasing photographs of everyday British scenes featuring Muslims was widely reported.

5. Talking to ordinary people, especially the young, about the sorts of things people here care about worked well. Meetings with some senior people were useful (e.g. XXX)[information redacted]. The delegates all stated that the emphasis of such outreach work should be with young people, who have either not yet formed opinions about the West, or were still willing to have their minds changed. Projects due to begin this financial year, brokered by CTD, and should fill precisely this gap. [Information redacted] will bring credible new perspectives and ideas to young people in large and small cities across the country. [Information redacted]. Both will also have the luxury of more time properly to explore debates; our delegates complained that by the time the (lengthy) pleasantries were over it was time to move to the next engagement. And with both new projects, the media must be involved to reach a much larger audience.

6. Being of Pakistani origin was also important. Having some Urdu made communication easy, and having a common heritage made it more of a conversation between equals. The delegates, rightly proud of the sacrifices and risks their ancestors took in leaving the subcontinent, felt they had the right to point out the problems and failings of Muslims in Pakistan, and their interlocutors took note. The free rein the delegates had to say what they liked was picked up by those they met, but also by the delegates themselves - one said specifically that he had enjoyed how little HMG had asked him to say.

Comment

7. Promoting British Islam delegations are an important part of our calendar of Prevent activity, allowing us to meet and influence people that we otherwise cannot, and for things to be said that would be unacceptable coming from a diplomat. It is also an opportunity to showcase the contributions Muslims make to the UK: their personal accounts of real pride in being British and Muslim has an almost visible impact on public opinion here. But such engagements cannot just be for the benefit of those they meet, hence our emphasis on a heavy media schedule to deploy their key points about the UK and about the freedoms that they enjoy as Muslims. The delegation visits have helped inform new activities, and they should be used to road-test project ideas again in the future

Not for EU partners - EXEMPT

1. Islamabad's fourth Projecting British Islam (PBI) delegation, four British nationals of Pakistani origin, visited on 26-27 November. The visit was timed to coincide with yours. Its objectives were to correct the wide-spread misconceptions in Pakistan about the situation of Muslims in the UK, and to amplify the voice of British Muslims to counter extremist ideology. The visit was short, but punchy. The main focus (as on previous PBI visits here) was on outreach activity in Islamabad and Mirpur, with particular emphasis on young people. There was a large media element: apart from "Question Time" in Islamabad, in Mirpur the delegates talked to the written press and did a live-on-air session with Rose FM (soon to be linked with Sunrise FM in the UK, courtesy of FCO funding).

2. The delegation comprised XXX (a leading scholar and research fellow at the University of Birmingham); XXX (an award-winning independent film-maker and BBC journalist); XXX (an obstetrician and community activist, working on Muslim women's issues); and XXX (a XXX of the Muslim Youth Helpline).

3. The centrepiece was the "Question Time" event in Islamabad, in which you participated. The audience consisted mainly of students from the International Islamic University, as well as Pakistani Youth Parliamentarians (another FCO funded project) and the media. Questions varied from visas and immigration, through issues of identity of Muslims in the West, to terrorism and US Predator attacks. The delegates responded articulately and robustly. They talked positively about their hybrid identities: as British nationals, as Muslims and as successful professional people. They also talked about Islam 'of' the west and not 'in' the west, and they spoke with conviction about the challenges facing British Pakistani communities.

4. One of our PREVENT objectives is to prioritise regions that play a role in radicalisation, with a direct impact on the UK. Mirpur, an "ancestral region" from where the families of some 65% of British Pakistanis (including XXX) originate, is the prime example. The population have very extensive links with the UK, though we often encounter a somewhat distorted perspective about life in the UK. There is a strong expectation in the local community that many young people will move to the UK as a result of marriage.

5. Despite this `umbilical' link with the UK, the delegates encountered many of the same misunderstandings and distorted views that are found elsewhere, including eg widely held beliefs that the US engineered 9/11 and that Islamophobia is widespread in the West. Worryingly, they also encountered such views among the media. We are working hard to increase our understanding of the role Mirpur plays in the radicalisation process. Engagement of this kind with the population to influence the mindset, and therefore build resilience against extremism, is crucial.

What worked well

6. The Question Time event. The moderator was ponderous but questions flowed freely. As you pointed out, such events bridge the gap between politicians and the public.

7. It was very helpful that all four delegates were of Pakistani origin and had a good command of Urdu. They connected with their audiences and carried considerable credibility. A shared heritage and faith allowed the delegates to be frank with their audiences and even-handed in their criticisms both of Pakistan and of the West. They all emphasised very convincingly the responsibility of Muslims in combating violent extremism.

What we could do better

8. All of the delegates said they would have preferred more time to explore issues in more detail. Time pressure meant that each of the events had to be cut short.

9. Although the `reach' of the visit was large - particularly through Rose FM - it did not directly touch people in positions of influence and power. Moreover, the visit was probably less successful in reaching out to the less mainstream audience, those who are ultimately more vulnerable to radicalisation.

Comment

COMMENT

1. A four person Projecting British Islam (PBI) delegation visited Ethiopia on 18-19 and 22-23 August for the first time. See separate eGram for their 19-21 visit to Somaliland. Ethiopia programme and delegation members detailed below. The delegation paid a variety of calls on Islamic leaders, opinion formers, NGOs and Government officials. The aims of the visit were to:

2. The visit highlight was delegate XXX addressing 10,000 people during Friday prayers at the main mosque in Addis. In ten minutes he detailed how the UK allowed him to be a Muslim better than any other country and directly tackled nascent anti-westernism. The entire delegation were enthusiastically mobbed on exit. A further highlight was a two hour debate on Islam and the UK with a core group of 40 salafi students, including their teacher and leader.

3. The delegates' key impressions of Ethiopia were:

4. The PBI received good media coverage for a country more used to visiting senior officials and donor assessment missions. This mostly concentrated on delegates lauding good inter religious community relations across Ethiopia. But points on Muslims in Britain were always included. They achieved the front page across a number English language papers, inclusion in the two main papers for the Muslim community, local TV news over the weekend and coverage across a number of radio stations, including an interview on the VoA amharic service.

COMMENT

5. [Information redacted]. In that time we have developed contacts with a variety of people that were key to such a successfully diverse PBI programme. But perhaps the greatest achievement of the PBI visit is to turn those contacts into meaningful relationships with people who now have a real affection for the UK. We need to capitalise on this rapidly with targeted projects to address key capacity issues and to help maintain Ethiopian resilience to more radical influences.

6. In particular we will look to enable the established political and religious leadership to better connect with each other and their members, especially women and youth where vulnerability to more radical forms of Islam seems most prevalent. We are talking to the British Council about training that would bring both sides together for professional leadership and management skills training. The recently established British Council funded Inter Cultural Dialogue Programme was key to the variety of events the PBI were able to attend. We will work with the Council to ensure this group develops its capacity to better work on overall ICD issues and as a sounding board for HMG in Ethiopia. [Information redacted].

1. A four person Projecting British Islam (PBI) delegation visited Somaliland for the first time from 19-21 August as part of our continuing development of CT work there. (eGram 28912 refers). They met a variety of people from the Somaliland Government, students, civil society and religious leaders. Full programme and delegate list attached below.

2. The aims of the PBI were:

3. As with most people the delegates had little knowledge of Somaliland, especially how it differs from the violence common in Puntland and South/ Central Somalia. Highlights of the visit included: meeting the President of Somaliland; a dinner with key ministers hosted by the Foreign Minister; a morning spent touring the various madrassa and mosques of Hargeisa; an emotional student Q&A session about Islam, the UK and the future of Somaliland; [information redacted].

4. Key impressions of the delegates were:

[information redacted]

5. Our own security rules for Somaliland travel make media handling difficult. However we managed to have coverage across all three local TV stations, the BBC Somali service, local radio and most local papers. One TV programme reached UK audiences via satellite. With Somaliland media being the most free and professional of all regional media it is followed by many in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Puntland and South/ Central Somalia, much amplifying the work of the PBI. Delegates also passed on agreed messages [information redacted].

6. We are working closely with CTD to get PREVENT work in a number of areas up and running in this FY. In particular we are looking at a programme of technical assistance to the Ministry of Religious Endowment to develop its capacity, explore how national stuctures for Islam could be established and provide professional training for imams. We will also work up a plan for the development of a national curriculum for all madrassa, probably involving the development of a number of model madrassa and training for teachers; and capacity building of the media as a forum for moderate voices,[information redacted].

COMMENT

7. An excellent visit that signalled our continuing commitment to Somaliland and further development of all aspects of CONTEST there. Our basic knowledge of what is happening in Islam, the threat to the UK and how to assist has been greatly enhanced. As with all HMG visitors the delegation received a warm welcome by all. But also something more: a genuine appreciation that our interest was wider than just government to government. And an openess to receive almost any assistance. But we must begin to deliver on a number of projects by the end of this year or risk losing the goodwill and constructive relationships we now have across so many sectors.

8. Somaliland is clearly ripe for radicalisation by external influences. With a number of targetted interventions by HMG we can up their resilience and demonstrate the value for money of PREVENT focussed proactivity at an early stage.

DETAIL

1. A six person PBI delegation visited Turkey between 10-14 November, with calls in Istanbul, straddling the Eurasian continental divide, in Gaziantep bordering with Syria, and in Ankara. The packed programme included: public forums in two very different universities; meetings with a Muslim business association, youth and women's NGOs; a reception as part of our project on countering extremism with Bahcesehir University, calls on the Directorate of Religious Affairs and its Islamic Research Centre; a discussion with members of the Parliamentary Commission dealing with the OIC; a visit to Ataturk's mausoleum; intellectual discussion with theology professors from Ankara University; a visit to the Embassy's newly opened prayer room; and a lively Q&A with the Women's Branch of the AK Party in Gaziantep. The delegation also gave numerous interviews, including with Al Jazeera, blogged, and twittered throughout.

2. The delegation visited two very different universities. In Istanbul, they visited Bilgi University, an affluent private university. There, they joined a class of around 17 students, mainly Turkish but with German, British, Polish and Italian students for a lively discussion in English around what EU membership would bring and whether Turkey should join in say 2023 (the 100th anniversary of the Republic). While there were some doubts that the EU would let them in, the students largely felt that Turkey should join, and that membership would increase their democratic freedoms and human rights.

3. In Gaziantep - a province bordering Syria, famous for its cuisine and world-class Mosaic Museum, with an active industry and a municipality keen to make use of EU funding - they visited an 11 year old State university with an emphasis on engineering and medicine. The group had a 2 hour session in an auditorium packed with students, few of whom spoke English Here the audience appeared more pessimistic than their Istanbul counterparts that the EU would ever let Turkey in, although they seemed struck by the figures that the delegates rattled off about the number of Muslims in the UK and in the EU. One student drew great applause when she suggested that Turkey should forget the EU and look to form an alliance with its Turkic brothers - ignoring not only the balance of political power but also Turkey's (and Gaziantep's) economic interests (26% of local trade is with the Middle East, 25% with the EU, 17% with other European countries, only 8% with Central Asia). The delegates urged the audience to see the benefits in facing both East and West, rather than choosing one over the other. Questions about the EU dominated - the forum had been titled 'Turkey's role in Europe, Europe's role in the world' - and leaving, many students commented that there were so many other things they would have liked to ask, outside of the EU.

4. The second day in Gaziantep saw a similarly lively exchange with the Women's Branch of the AK Party (chaired, inevitably, by the male Provincial Chair of the party). Here, the discussion went wider. The Provincial Chair talked in critical (but not specifically anti-UK) terms about the invasion of Iraq, and there was open discussion of the headscarf. The delegates talked about different countries finding their own way to plurality, and discussed the UK's acceptance of different religious clothing and their freedom to practise Islam in the UK. [Information redacted]. Both the AKP and the Gaziantep University event showed the real strength of PBI visits - delegates were able to make a deeper connection with the audience than would have been possible for members of this Embassy. As Muslims growing up in the UK, they could rebut arguments about the EU as a Christian club not just with statistics, but from personal experience, and argue convincingly that a multi-layered identity was an asset Turkey should cherish.

5. In Ankara, delegates visited Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum, to get a sense of modern Turkey. They met a selection of contacts and journalists at an Embassy reception, and visited the Embassy prayer room, newly opened as a result of work by our local Diversity committee. In a visit to the Diyanet (Directorate of Religious Affairs), they asked about imam training, particularly for the imams sent abroad. The Diyanet provide several months of language training in the language of their host country, classes on its political and social structure, and refreshing the Imams' general training, which the delegates thought could be of interest to people in the UK looking at the issue of Imam training. This was later twisted in the press as a plan for the UK to import imams from Turkey, but the delegates were able to correct this in subsequent interviews). Delegates were also extremely interested in the Diyanet's project to publish a new collection of hadith, categorised by topic and put into context - this was not a reformation or change to the accepted hadith, rather a re-presentation to make them relevant and accessible to a modern audience. The Diyanet said they expected this to be published (in Turkish only initially) 'in 2009', but were unable to be more specific.

MEDIA

6. There was widespread media coverage - only a Royal visit could guarantee more - with over a dozen articles, and several tv interviews. Coverage was overwhelmingly positive - the one off-the-wall story about UK 'plans to import imams' only served to increase media interest in the following events, and was quickly corrected by delegates.

WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T

7. [Information redacted]

8. To manage the risk, we presented the visit firmly in the less threatening context of the UK's support for EU accession. Overall, this worked - there is still gratitude for the UK's role in getting negotiations started at all levels of society, expressed by many of the Turkish interlocutors. But at times it may have restricted the debate, with few questions about delegates' experiences as Muslims in Britain and the importance of cooperating against radicalisation, and there was surprisingly little comment or questioning about the headscarf in the UK. It is possible that whatever the title of the session, students might feel unable to discuss controversial issues in a hall full of their peers and lecturers. But for future visits, we should look for looser topics, and also encourage the lead delegate at any meeting to make it clear that off-topic questions would be welcome.

9. It is often hard in Turkey to get programmes finalised, and the timing and format of some of the meetings was up in the air until the day before. This meant that some of the informal meetings and public fora felt compressed in time, and could easily have gone on longer. Informal meetings where the delegates could circulate and meet as many people as possible worked very well, but were then limited to mainly English speaking invitees.

FOLLOW-UP

10. I met the delegates for a wash up session on the last day of the visit. We identified a number of ideas & projects which we will take forward with CTD [information redacted]:

[information redacted]

1. A British Muslim delegation visited Sudan on 14-18 December as part of CTD's Projecting British Islam programme. The delegation sent two days in West Darfur and two days in Khartoum meeting a wide range of government and opposition figures, religious leaders, Islamic scholars, academics, students, NGOs and other civil society representatives. The delegation will also be visiting Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Darfur

2. The delegation visited a camp (Krinding 2) for internally displaced people (IDPs) near El Geneina, where Islamic Relief are camp co-ordinators. The delegation were able to see at first hand the grim conditions faced by the camp's 14,000 residents who have been living there in basic shelters since 2004. The main request from both camp elders and women's groups was for security, better access to health, education and food. The delegation visited a women's handicraft centre, a medical clinic where 100 children are born every month and an outdoor school, where they expressed the hope that the pupils would go on to contribute to Darfur's future.

3. The delegation met the [information redacted], Darfuri lawyers and UN officials. Most Darfuri interlocutors were cautiously optimistic about the Qatari initiative, stressing the need to resolve differences. Without a political settlement, IDPs could not return home and there could be no transition from humanitarian relief to recovery and development. [Information redacted].

XXX XXX XXX

4. [Information redacted]

5. [Information redacted]

6. [Information redacted]

7. Questioned by XXX XXX on whether the problem of rape in Darfur was growing or diminishing and what steps were being taken to deal with it and to punish the perpetrators, the XXX on gender-based violence produced statistics to show that the incidence of rape was in sharp decline.

Civil society

8. [Information redacted] and a leading Islamic scholar, told the delegation that XXX announcement had encouraged change in Sudan. International pressure must continue. [Information redacted].

9. [Information redacted] on Darfur and Director of University of Khartoum Peace Research Institute, said that the SPI had brought people together from across the political spectrum to discuss a way forward on Darfur. This was a significant achievement. [Information redacted]. The delegation should urge the GoS to take forward the recommendations. The rebels were also behaving in an irresponsible way and should be urged to join the peace process. [Information redacted]. The Arab world should be encouraged to do more for rehabilitation and reconstruction in Darfur.

10. The delegation had a Q&A session with around 100 students from Khartoum's Africa International University. Pro-GoS students were critical of INGOs, claiming that many of them had their own agenda. Others stressed the need to encourage more dialogue between the Muslim world and youth in the West. The delegation were challenged on how they would make use of what they had seen in Darfur and how they could encourage rebel groups to attend the talks in Qatar.

Media

11. Television crews from Al Jazeera and Arabiya MBC accompanied the delegation to Darfur and produced positive packages of their visit for the pan-Arab media. BBC World Service will broadcast an interview with XXX recorded after her return from Darfur. The delegation's press conference at my Residence received extensive coverage in the local media. The delegation filmed video diaries which will be broadcast on youtube and on XXX blog. Photos of the visit to Darfur can be found on www.fco.gov.uk/pbi-sudan <http://www.fco.gov.uk/pbi-sudan>

12. [Information redacted].

COMMENT

13. Another successful visit by an impressive PBI delegation to Sudan at a key time for the Qatari initiative on Darfur. The visit took place against a difficult political backdrop ahead of a potential ICC indictment of President Bashir and concerns about mounting JEM rebel forces. [Information redacted]. Others took a more moderate line, admitting that there was a problem and that political will was needed on all sides to reach a sustainable peace. The delegation presented eloquent and robust responses noting that what they had seen was not `normal'. They reminded interlocutors of their responsibilities as fellow Muslims and urged courageous action rather than denial to end the suffering in Darfur.

DETAIL

1. A delegation of six British Muslims visited Morocco from 9-13 February. EGram 4442/09 set out the background to the visit. The delegation carried out a packed three-day programme in Rabat, Casablanca and Fez. The delegates were animated and engaged, visibly inspired by what they saw, and in turn inspired many of the people they met. We gave them a full briefing on their arrival, encouraging them to take the lead and speak freely at all meetings. All reactions to the visit were positive, with most interlocutors wanting more time.

Who did they meet?

2. The delegates met three Ministers and a raft of former ministers. They also engaged with government officials, NGOs and scholars. We held four separate events where the delegation engaged with over 100 students and young people from the worlds of journalism, strategic studies, future religious scholars and underprivileged youth.

What did we achieve?

3. We challenged misconceptions about Muslims in the UK. The diversity of the delegation dispelled the Moroccan myth that all British Muslims are of South Asian origin. The moderate views they expressed also countered the image of extremist “Londonistan” which still exists, particularly in the lower echelons of Moroccan society. The delegation also showed that Muslims in the UK are able to practice their religion freely, with our delegates explaining the wide provision of prayer rooms, no legal obstacles to wear the hijab, etc.

4. The visit will help us better achieve our Prevent objectives at Post. The visit allowed us new access to Moroccan youth and religious leaders. It has boosted our credibility within the religious establishment, both at grassroots level among future religious leaders and with the Minister of Islamic Affairs himself, which will prove key in securing the support needed for greater co-operation. The openness with which the delegates spoke demonstrated the UK Government's willingness to engage with individuals who do not necessarily support all our policy.

5. The visit will also have a positive impact on our prevent work in the UK as the delegates were visibly impressed by our understanding of the causes of radicalisation and the fact that we are engaged with a range of partners to tackle it. The delegates are influential in their communities and will relay the message that the UK Government is working in co-operation with local communities, civil society and local governments to address these problems in Muslims countries.

6. The visit was also an opportunity for the delegates and Embassy staff to learn from Morocco. Moroccan Islam is spiritual and tolerant, and the delegates were visibly moved by their discussion with the (renowned scholar) Minister of Islamic Affairs. The delegates were pleased to hear that Morocco has been working to counter radicalisation for some years, with its own approach to Prevent. The delegates were keen to learn lessons from the Moroccan experience and to translate successful projects and approaches to the UK.

What came up?

7. As expected, the Israel-Gaza conflict was raised at many meetings, sometimes by the delegates themselves. This provided the opportunity for delegates to highlight the freedoms of speech and association that British Muslims enjoy. All agreed that the Palestinian issue would continue to be a force for radicalisation until a peaceful resolution was found. The delegates were disappointed (though not surprised) that no Moroccans would take the lead on condemning the behaviour of Hamas or other “islamic” movements.

8. The delegates held several discussions on the role of women and the obstacles they faced. The delegation were genuinely impressed by some of the recent steps taken by the Moroccan Government to tackle these issues, though interlocutors all agreed that more needed to be done. The delegates were disappointed by the mourchidats project (training women religious guides), though recognised that the project was still in its infancy. The delegates were touched by grassroots NGOs working to overcome domestic violence, and were keen to do more to help.

What about the media?

9. There was good coverage across all forms of media, which was overwhelmingly positive. The visit was covered in the evening television news, several radio interviews were aired and a “Week in Westminster” -style radio programme focused on the visit. The French and Arabic printed press have also covered the story with a positive angle, noting the quality of theological discussions and replaying the key messages of the visit. While we were disappointed not to have wider media interest (such as in-depth television interviews), the quality of the reporting trumped the quantity.

What did it do for us?

10. The Embassy was engaged at all levels from an early stage. I was involved in the planning stages and met the delegation for a full briefing when they arrived. Colleagues accompanied the delegation at all times, offering support but taking a backseat at meetings. This has reaped rewards for us. I have positive feedback from a number of Ministers and other key figures here. They saw it as an innovative approach. The visit enabled Embassy staff to engage with new interlocutors within the religious establishment and reinforced our credentials with previous contacts. Most importantly, almost all interlocutors across the spectrum understood and appreciated the intentions of the visit. They understood and identified with our key messages and were keen to work us on the counter-radicalisation agenda.

What next?

11. The delegation highlighted that, while the Moroccan Government had understood the threat from radical extremism, and had some excellent ideas to counter it, this narrative was not filtering down to the grassroots level. Many imams did not fully understand their role in countering extremism. Some of the delegates also raised the role of religious scholars in speaking out against violence against women, particularly in countering the belief that it is defended in the Qur'an. We will consider how we might work with partners and the Government of Morocco in developing these areas.

12. The delegates themselves made contacts at all levels and we expect these to be developed over the coming months. The delegates were impressed by the Director of the Fez Sacred Music Festival, and one will be taking forward plans to hold a similar event in London, promoting inter-faith dialogue through music. [information redacted]. We will keep abreast of these activities and see where we can add value.

COMMENT

13. A good experience. I would welcome further visits. I was very impressed by the quality of the delegates and their thought through and often courageous interventions. It was particularly intriguing to see how quickly they moved on from projecting the UK (which they did most effectively) to taking away real lessons from how Morocco practises tolerance.

1. A delegation of six British Muslims visited Lebanon between 2 - 6 March as part of the PBI programme. The delegates were representative of the diverse Muslim communities in Britain, including Sunni and Shia, religious and secular, and from South Asian, Arab and African backgrounds. The delegates were impressive, both in terms of achievements in their fields, and in the depth and breadth of knowledge they displayed.

2. Embassy staff arranged the programme and accompanied them throughout. But the delegates led the sessions and made it clear throughout the programme that they were independent of HMG and were expressing their own views freely.

The programme

3. In an intensive five-day programme the delegates met with students, religious figures, politicians, journalists and NGO workers across Lebanon (full programme attached). Of particular note were calls on XXX, and lively, well attended Q&A debates at the Beirut Arab University and Islamic Cultural centre. The delegates were warmly received at all the events.

Recurring themes

4. With such a diverse range of contacts, discussion in meetings and debates was varied, but some common topics came up repeatedly. There was significant interest in the role and treatment of Muslims in British society. Questions ranged from practical issues about wearing the hijab and prayer times at work, to broader concerns over discrimination, integration and preserving beliefs in Western culture. The general perception appeared to be that there were serious obstacles for Muslims in the UK. The delegates were able to dispel many misconceptions and described life as a Muslim the UK, whilst having its challenges, as being very positive with real freedoms. The delegates made it clear that the Muslim community was a part of UK society and not a separate entity. They highlighted that the Muslim community was actively involved in government and consulted on policy.

5. Israel/Palestine, the 2006 conflict and terrorism also came up frequently is discussions. In particular there was a perception of bias in British media coverage of Arab/Israeli issues. Despite testimonies on the objectivity of the British media from the delegates, they were unable to alter opinion significantly. Similarly, the narrative of Western involvement in the Middle East being [information redacted] On the whole, these attitudes were more prevalent amongst older participants in discussions, with more openness shown by students in debates.

6. On a positive note, there was a common perception throughout the visit that the UK was more in touch with the situation of Muslims in the Middle East than most other Western countries, and that the UK was ahead of other countries in providing for the rights of Muslims domestically.

7. The meeting with XXX was a mixed experience. He began with comments about the need for Muslims in the West to play a full part in their countries, and support the societies which have given them a good life. He said that terrorism was not acceptable there and that terrorists did not understand or represent Islam. [information redacted].

8. Amongst NGOs and universities, there was a desire to build links with the UK. Delegates were able to exchange details with NGOs with whom they may seek to work with in the future. Students also in showed an appetite for further dialogue and exchanges with Muslims in the UK. The delegates indicated they were happy to help with this and provided contact details.

Media

9. There was wide media interest in the visit, and PBI delegates were interviewed by local and regional newspapers and television stations. there was also factual coverage of the visit. In addition, two live TV interviews were held on AJ Live and Future TV focusing on the role of British Muslims in UK politics and society, Islamophobia (on Future TV), the image of Islam in the west and east, women rights amongst other issues. The highlight was the one hour interview on Al Jazeera Live with Sabira Lakha - the first time a delegate has been given such lengthy coverage in the regional Arabic media. Sabira was able to challenge misconceptions about Muslims in Britain, the UK's anti-terrorism legislation and application of Sharia law with a wide Middle-Eastern audience.

10. Six major Lebanese newspapers of various political affiliations interviewed members of the delegation, reaching out to a wide local and regional audience. There was an impressive outreach to Lebanese audience within Lebanon's diverse political and confessional system. Overall coverage was very positive, with a focus on the delegation's visit objectives, their integration in British civil society as well as building bridges between Muslims in the UK and those in the Arab World.

Comment

11. The visit has helped challenge misconceptions about Muslims in Britain and opened up the potential for further engagement between Muslims in the UK and Lebanon. The Prevent team in the UK and here will follow up with delegates to build on the links developed during the visit.

12. The visit was also educational for the delegates in learning something of the complexities of Lebanon and the issues facing Muslims here. It served to provide further credibility with contacts in Lebanon, demonstrating that Muslims are an integral part of UK society and very engaged politically.

1. A six person British Bangladeshi delegation visited Bangladesh from 24 - 28 May under the Projecting British Muslims (PBM) project. The programme for the visit sought to exploit the diverse background of the delegation members (which included media personalities, a sportsman, a businessman, an author and an academic) and deliver against London and Post's Prevent objectives.

2. The intensive 5 day programme in Dhaka and Sylhet involved a range of events and calls, including:

3. The visit received excellent media coverage in Bangladesh, with two interviews and the concluding press conference also broadcast in the UK. All major newspapers and TV channels reported on the visit, targeting both the young and academic audiences. Some of the key messages expressed by the delegation and reported in the media included religious and cultural freedom in the UK; UK government's provision of education irrespective of religious or ethnic backgrounds; success stories of the expatriate Bangladeshi community in the UK in a range of sectors; cultural identity; and discussions on the practice of Islam and the role of Muslim women in the UK.

Comment

4. The visit helped identify a number of new avenues for future Prevent work in the area of counter ideology. We are exploring a range of ideas with CTD colleagues including improving the Islamic Foundation's access to mainstream Islamic texts which can be translated into Bengali and disseminated to key audiences. We are also discussing with CTD how we can involve one or two key Bangladeshi opinion formers in PBM follow-up events in the UK.

5. Overall the visit was a success, but we have received subsequent feedback that the delegates focussed too much on religion. The Awami League Government are emphasising Bangladesh's secularist nature and the importance of Bengali culture. [Information redacted].

1. Helmandis in the main district centres are uncommonly familiar with British people. But their impressions of the UK are often largely informed by interactions with soldiers on the ground and rumours propagated by the Taliban. When villagers in Musa Qala met a Muslim soldier earlier this year, they made him recite the Quran before they believed that he was Muslim.

2. In that context, the visit by an FCO-sponsored delegation of four British Muslims to Afghanistan, focusing on Helmand from 26-28 October, played a valuable role in helping correct some of those misperceptions.

3. They were hosted by the leading religious official in Helmand, XXX XXX XXX XXX. In Lashkar Gah they met XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX, held shuras with a range of religious ulema and with a representative selection of Lashkar Gah residents, and took part in a TV debate with local ulema. In Nad e Ali they attended a counter-narcotics shura, met XXX XXX XXX, local Community Council members and ulema, visited a school and met UK troops and some of the ANA officers they were mentoring. A news team from Sky accompanied the visit throughout. In Kabul they met the Parliamentary Religious Affairs Committee, members of the Ulema Council, the Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs, XXX, visited a madrassah, attended a reception with a cross section of civil society, government officials and parliamentarians and had a round table discussion with Afghan media where they spoke powerfully against the use of suicide bombers.

4. The delegation's visit was widely reported by local press in Helmand and Kandahar. XXX, among others, reported that news of the delegation's presence was met with regret by those who had missed them. In their own messaging to a range of Helmandi audiences, taking in religious figures, tribal elders, provincial officials and schoolchildren, the delegation focused on the freedom afforded to Muslims in the UK in comparison to other countries, the promotion of strong counter-extremist messages and Islamic teaching on suicide bombing and narcotics.

5. XXX high Islamic standing and fluent Pashtu enabled him to build bridges with some of the more hostile ulema. He was received warmly by well-respected mullahs with whom we have only ever established a cautious rapport and engaged in detailed theological debate on the roots of suicide bombing and the concept of martyrdom.

6. Typical messages put out by insurgents in Helmand aimed at undermining international efforts in support of the Afghan Government include that international forces are here to undermine Islamic society; that they build schools to inculcate children with Christianity and hospitals to inject them with non halal substances; and that Helmandis growing poppy are effectively waging jihad against infidel Western users. The delegation was able to refute a number of these myths including e.g. engaging with schoolchildren in Nad e Ali who claimed that their school couldn't have been built by the British since they would refuse to attend an infidel school. They also stood down a vociferous journalist who claimed that killing non believers might be acceptable, with their response broadcast on Radio and Television Afghanistan (RTA).

7. The delegation has gone away with a much better understanding of the nature of the UK and international effort in Helmand and this will inform their future engagement with their own constituencies in the UK. They were impressed by the range of non-kinetic stabilisation activity in the province and the extent to which this was directly supported by the military. They were surprised to learn about the contribution of nations such as Turkey and the UAE to the international effort and were keen that we collectively encourage Arab states to engage more actively in support.

8. A key theme throughout the visit was that of education. The delegation were keen to look at what more could be done to ensure that Helmandis had access to decent religious education which enabled them to learn the true nature of Islam and equipped them to counter the extreme Taliban narrative. They suggested that religious radio programming could help. During the visit, XXX and XXX recorded moderate religious messages for broadcast on local radio and they plan to follow up with more. In Kabul, they visited the Darul Uloom Arabia and XXX offered support in providing teaching material on learning the English language from an Islamic perspective.

9. It is likely that the people will credit the XXX with much of the visit's organisation, and his association with popular religious visitors may have enhanced his own standing. We are looking at how we can help him do more to exercise his religious oversight function within Helmand.

10. Perhaps the most notable aspect of the visit was how much the Helmandis enjoyed it. It demonstrated to us both the immediate public diplomacy benefits such a visit can bring and the potential for future work engaging British Muslims in countering the Taliban narrative. We hope to organise a follow-up visit to the UK for senior Helmandi religious figures in the coming months.

UNCLASSIFIED - SENSITIVE

Highly successful third PBM visit to Algeria, including visits to the provinces. Ministerial reception; widespread and largely positive media coverage. The UK remains the forerunner in Algerian perceptions of community cohesion, well ahead of European partners. Pleas for increased engagement from the British Council, particularly English language opportunities.

From            ALGIERS

Precedence      CONFIRMATION

eGram No.       3271/10

Despatched      16/03/2010 09:34:00 GMT

Delegation

1. Four British Muslims visited Algeria from 6-12 March as part of the PBM visit programme. The delegation comprised two people of Algerian origin, one of Iraqi and one of Yemeni descent. The mix in age, experience and backgrounds of the delegates worked well and the programme played to each of their individual strengths. Having a delegation where everyone spoke Arabic allowed for a much freer flowing discussion than during the 2009 visit, given that so few people in Algeria speak English (and we are grateful to the delegates for persevering with Algerian Arabic).

Programme

2. The delegation was very well received by the Algerian authorities. In Algiers, the delegation called on the Minister of Religious Affairs, and the Head of the Higher Islamic Council and met with Islamic Scholars. The delegation called on the Religious Affairs committees in both houses of Parliament, including a meeting with XXX, Vice President of the Senate and national heroine for her activities in the Algerian war of independence. The delegation held a debate at the Department of Political Sciences of Algiers University with 80 students on the role of Muslims in the UK and held an informal but insightful meeting with a group of students from the University of Tizi Ouzou. I hosted a reception at the Residence with leading opinion formers.

3. The delegation also visited the two predominant centres of Islamic learning in Algeria, Tlemcen and Constantine. In Tlemcen, the delegation was received by the Wali and the local Member of Parliament and other senior officials. They also visited the University of Sidi Boumediene, although opportunities for interaction with the students were limited. The delegation saw the preparations underway for 2011, when Tlemcen will be the Islamic City of Culture. Despite the grim weather, the delegation had an opportunity to visit many Islamic historical sites, many dating back to the exodus of Muslims from Andalusia.

4. In Constantine, the delegation met the Wali but spent most of the day interacting with students, firstly at the Amir Abdelqader University of Islamic Sciences and then the Mentouri University. At the former, the delegation had a Q&A session with a group of students in what is, by far, Algeria's most conservative institute of Islamic learning. 

Key messages

5. The key messages from Algerians to the delegation were consistent and clear. The UK is seen as the forerunner of intercommunity relations, particularly the freedoms that Muslims are afforded in the UK to practise their religion in the UK without interference from the state, a stark contrast the delegation were told time and time again, to other European nations. The delegation was honest and open in response to questions: while there were inter-community tensions and the UK was not paradise, they appreciated the society in which they lived.

Media

6. The delegation had a busy programme with the media starting with a reception hosted by my DHM. There was widespread coverage of the visit in all of the print and broadcast media. They attended a roundtable discussion at Echourouk newspaper, the Maghreb's largest, with a circulation of 1.5 million (mostly conservative) daily readers. They appeared on both the French and Arabic morning breakfast shows (which are among the most viewed programmes on Algerian TV) and were guests on a primetime talk show. The delegation gave interviews to all Algerian radio channels, including Radio Quran. A debate on the role of Muslims in the UK hosted by the Echaab Research Centre was covered prominently in the newspapers and in the evening TV news. The visit prompted a special TV programme on UK/ Algeria relations. Coverage of the visit was carried by all Algerian newspapers, both French and Arabic (which have a combined daily circulation of more than four million newspapers). The vast majority of coverage was positive, welcoming the FCO's initiative in bringing a PBM visit to Algeria and reporting the delegation's positive experiences of life in the UK. The two Algerian delegates on the visit also gave separate interviews on the Algerian community in the UK and we hope will serve as a future positive link between this Embassy and the Algerian community in the UK, as well as useful contacts for CTD for outreach events. Negative coverage was limited to scepticism in some of the smaller papers that this visit was a propaganda exercise by the British Government.

English language teaching

7. One of the regular themes of the visit was the demand for greater engagement by the UK in Algeria, particularly English language training. There is an almost insatiable demand for ELT in Algeria as the country wakes up to the fact that we are in an increasingly English- speaking world; [information redacted]. These are requests that this Embassy hears on a daily basis from a range of interlocutors. The calls for greater engagement from the British Council were particularly strong during the visits to Tlemcen and Constantine, where some European countries do have cultural centres. The delegation took the opportunity of a call on the Director of the British Council to raise these issues and to look at other areas where the two Algerian delegates might promote links between the two countries on issues such as twinning universities.

Comment

8. A very good visit which has further reinforced the perception that the UK is way ahead in terms of community cohesion from our European counterparts. We have been encouraged by the amount of goodwill towards the UK in this country, which is all the more apparent given the poor state of relations between Algeria and France at the moment. The visit has served to build our links outside Algiers, something that we will seek to build on in the year ahead. We will also discuss with the British Council what we can do to meet the Algerians strong desire for increased English language training and cultural activities.