“EU Integration, Faith and Diversity in Scotland: A Shia Muslim Perspective” Organised by the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society and Sponsored by Bill Kidd MSP, Chief Whip to The Scottish Government at The Scottish Parliament.
An unprecedented and key juncture within the engagement of the Shia Muslims in Western Europe: the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society held a momentous event within the Scottish Parliament on Wed 2nd March 2016 – sponsored by Scottish government Chief Whip Bill Kidd.
Titled “EU Integration, Faith and Diversity in Scotland: A Shia Muslim Perspective” the event highlighted the Scottish Shia Muslim communities as social and humanitarian stakeholders, celebrated Scotland’s renowned religious and cultural diversity, and sought to strengthen the societal integration of the Shia Muslims, and wider society, within Scotland, the UK and EU member states.
The Keynote speakers were;
Sayed Ali Abass Razawi, Director General of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society
Nicola Sturgeon MSP, the First Minister of Scotland
Katharina Von Schnurbein, Coordinator for the European Commission
RT Rev Dr Angus Morrison, Moderator of the General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland
Other Distinguished Guests Speakers were;
Mary Morgan, Director – Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service
Dr Maureen Sier, Director of Interfaith Scotland
Dr Ali Mehdi, Imamia Medics UK (IMI), Scotland
Professor Andrew Newman. Reader in Islamic Studies and Persian, The University of Edinburgh
The event was attended by VIPs representing the widest cross-section of Scottish Civic and Religious Society, Churches of all denominations, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other faith and no-faith communities, consul generals from the diplomatic corps, as well as governmental officials and parliamentarians, deputations from all the Armed Services and Police Scotland, Fire and Health Services, European Commission and EU parliamentary office representation, executives of healthcare charities, commercial and cultural organisations, UN accredited bodies, academics, civic and religious leaders, and representation from the Shia Muslim congregations of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee.
Iftkhar Ali, vice-chairman of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society, spoke on the event: “A huge thanks to Bill Kidd MSP for his immense support, and we pray that this milestone event fosters ever growing national and cross-border friendships between the Scottish Shia Muslim community and society at large.”
Ishrat Hussnain, vice-chairwoman of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society said: “We thank society as a whole for welcoming us as stakeholders and friends, united upon social work, peace and dialogue for the common good.”
To watch the video please click HERE
[youtube height=”HEIGHT” width=”WIDTH”]PLACE_LINK_HERE[/youtube]
