New anti-terrorism thinktank in Scotland
I was sent this press release. Don’t know anything about these guys… our readers may know more?
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Azeem Ibrahim, the Scottish rich list entrepreneur and Harvard scholar is launching a unique new think tank through his philanthropic foundation, the Ibrahim Foundation, which will fill a hole in Scotland’s anti-radicalisation programme and contribute to Scotland’s long-term national security.
Azeem is no stranger to tackling extremist ideologies and has an extensive track record for breaking new ground in this area. In the past he has advised the UK government on counter-terrorism and radicalisation strategy after delivering a keynote speech at the Security and Cohesion Leaders’ Summit at Whitehall.
He subsequently wrote a policy memo on ‘Reducing Terrorism over the Long Term’, which was distributed to every Member of Parliament, Peer and Member of the Scottish Parliament. The memo aroused intense interest amongst senior politicians within the United Kingdom and in the United States.
In launching the SOLAS Foundation, which means ‘light’ in Galic, Azeem said: “The 2007 attack on Glasgow’s national airport shows that radicals can threaten public safety. The solution is to provide credible educators who can counter radical narratives to young people in places where they can access it, by people who they trust, before they radicalise. This is what the SOLAS Foundation has been set up to do. We therefore have two of the leading Islamic thinkers in Scotland spearheading this program.
Shaykh Amer and Shaykh Rizwan are both Scottish-born and Scottish-educated. But both are also theologically trained in the traditional Islamic sciences. Research shows that radicalisation can only be prevented if the education comes from a credible source. There is no one more credible, qualified and experienced than these young scholars to deliver this project.â€
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This is a press release so take it with a pinch of salt. The question is: are these guys genuine or just hankering for some PVE money?
Azeem recently wrote this article on Afghanistan. Last year the Times gave him a glowing profile.
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Filed in: Current affairs,Islamists,Terrorism
I’d ask Paul Wilkinson, professor in the study of terrorism at St Andrews.
He seems to be a very sucessful young man:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy/work_areas/accessprofessions/azeem_ibrahim.aspx
Azeem Ibrahim seems like an interesting and really talented guy. There’s a short bio from The Herald. The title “From a Glasgow council house to dinner at the White House” says it all:
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2368929.0.From_a_Glasgow_council_house_to_dinner_at_the_White_House.php
This think tank looks like an interesting, and hopefully positive, initiative.
I worked with Azeem in the past on his charity in Bosnia. He is an exceptional individual. This is a private initiative funded by his foundation as far as I am aware and they are not looking for any PVE funds. When I worked with him all his projects were self financed and he never accepted any funds from any other source. That may have changed but I think it is unlikely.
His take on Sharia courts seems quite reasonable to me.
http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/19251/islamic_law_enhances_rather_than_threatens_the_uk_legal_system.html?breadcrumb=%2Fexperts%2F1828%2Fazeem_ibrahim
This is very welcome news.
Very impressive. I agree with is take on sharia, although I think there may be a typo in para #11. Shouldn’t If we say they can, read If we say they can’t?
Would it be useful to put a copy of the release up via scribd as seeing the actual document might offer more information?
Hang on a minute. Azeem Ibrahim is 32 yers old. How can he be so successful and clever (and rich) at such a young age? I’ve read a few of his articles now.
I wish I was half as wise.
It was also covered in the Sunday Times. I supposed they must have scrutinized the claims before publishing.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6719138.ece
bloody hell, what an amazing chap. i am astounded that one person can achieve so much in so little time.
b’shalom
bananabrain
He lives on the shore of Lake Michigan, ie in Chicago – very sensible.
Phil- I’ve published most of the press release other than comments by the guy himself and contact details for the press (which were not for public consumption).
He’s a former pupil of the school where I used to teach in Glasgow. Obviously we can impute his success to the quality of his education.