The Director and Trustees of Lapido Media have pleasure in inviting you to the launch of our new series
HANDY BOOKS FOR JOURNALISTS
on Religious Literacy in World Affairs
FRONTLINE CLUB
13 Norfolk Place, London W2 1QJ
THURSDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2012
6 – 7.30pm
The Tablighi Jamaat are the biggest Islamic mission in the world, it is said. They are seeking to build their new European headquarters in Newham. We thought this would be a topical subject with which to launch our forthcoming series of ‘Handy Books for Journalists’, and I’d like to invite you personally to the Frontline Club event.
I am thrilled that the important Muslim commentator Ziauddin Sardar has agreed to be in conversation with the BBC correspondent Dan Damon about this group that is either ignored because misunderstood, or caricatured as an ‘ante-chamber of terrorism’. They are tricky for journalists to cover since they do not fit any of our templates: they are not evangelists, but revivalists; they are other-worldly but very concerned to be taken seriously by the planning authorities in Newham; they express themselves keen to promote social cohesion, yet were founded to separate themselves out. Their desire to integrate is at odds with their dress, speech, observance and writings, which require them to be distinctive. They are deeply spiritual, yet many terrorists have found succour in their midst. Where do they come from? What do they believe? Why are they in UK?
The planning appeal for the Abbey Mills site will be on-going for at least another 12 months, and we are getting requests from the BBC and others for clarity on this group whose HQ in Nizamuddin I have personally visited. We believe this is a good, topical subject to start our new series of media handbooks.
Please RSVP to info@lapidomedia.com and watch out for further information.
Jenny Taylor
Executive Director
Registered Charity No. 1121301