St Nicholas Cathedral, the Mother Church of the Diocese of Newcastle, in partnership with Newcastle Council of Faiths hosting a special seminar ‘Common Ground for the Common Good’ to promote the innovative work of Anti-Radicalisation Mentoring and Awareness Network – AMAN

Report by: Bureau Chief Nawa-i-Jang, Newcastle

AMAN Project (Press Release)

Inter Faith Week has been observed throughout UK since 2008 to strengthen good inter-faith relations, augment awareness of different and distinct faith communities as well as increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious belief.

This year’s inter-faith week will take place from Sunday 15 – Saturday 21 November.

To celebrate Inter Faith week, St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle Council of Faiths and Anti-Radicalisation Mentoring and Awareness Network – AMAN will hold a special seminar ‘Common Ground for the Common Good’ on 18th November.

St. Nicolas Cathedral, Newcastle upon tyne

AMAN project was launched earlier this year to safeguard school children from extremism and build community resilience against terrorism. The project also aims to promote the fundamental British values of individual liberty, mutual respect, tolerance, rule of law and democracy as a counter narrative to Jihadist ideology and build a cohesive society.

The seminar will have a presentation from the chairperson AMAN Mrs. Nabeela Ali to detail the objectives and interventions of AMAN project. And Dr. Ali Mehmood shared the outcomes of AMAN research and activities.

The Very Revd. Christopher Dalliston praised AMAN project for offering practical solutions to curb the menace of extremism. He said:

‘We are delighted to host AMAN project at St. Nicolas and look forward to develop sustaining partnership with them in the future”.

Veteran community activist and Vice Chair Newcastle Council of Faiths Dr. Hari Shukla CBE stated that all young people could be vulnerable to extremism unless they are offered support and advice by organisations like AMAN. He hoped that AMAN project world reduce the risk of extremism across all religious and non-religious communities.

Lesley Hillary, advisor to Committee for Interfaith and Ethnic Relations (CIFER), welcomed the initiative taken by AMAN in promoting respect for all people to counter the flawed narrative of extremist organisation.

Mrs. Nabeela Ali, Chairperson AMAN project, expressed her gratitude to partner organisations for hosting this seminar. She remained hopeful that various stakeholders such as churches, schools, government institutions and community activists would help AMAN to achieve the common goal of better Britain for our future generations.

From Left to Right: The Very Revd Christopher Dalliston, the Dean, St Nicholas Cathedral; Lesley Hillary [Bishop of Newcastle Inter-Faith &. Ethnic Relations Advisor]; Mrs. Nabeela Ali, Chairperson, Anti-Radicalisation Mentoring and Awareness Network; Dr. Hari Shukla, Vice Chair Newcastle Council of Faiths

From Left to Right: The Very Revd Christopher Dalliston, the Dean, St Nicholas Cathedral; Lesley Hillary [Bishop of Newcastle Inter-Faith &. Ethnic Relations Advisor]; Mrs. Nabeela Ali, Chairperson, Anti-Radicalisation Mentoring and Awareness Network; Dr. Hari Shukla, Vice Chair Newcastle Council of Faiths

St. Nicolas Cathedral, Newcastle upon tyne