Inter Faith Dialogue & Multi Culturalism

Don Foster the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government has agreed to host a meeting on Inter Faith Dialogue in a Multicultural Society.

We are told we live in a Secular age and in many ways we do. Yet in the 21st century we have seen a revival in faith based movements and an interest in spirituality. We have also seen an expansion in diversity and this has led to questions about social cohesion and the importance of dialogue How do we understand what is happening in 21st Century society and how can we all live together respecting each other's convictions.

This is not about a debate over whether religion is right or wrong but given that there are such diverse faiths and communities within society, then how can we accommodate each other and live together in tolerance. How do we respect our differences and what is the framework needed for that respect to always be mutual.

The Rt Hon Don Foster MP was appointed as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government in September 2012. Don was a science teacher for many years, before becoming a science project director with the Avon Education Authority. He later became a lecturer in education at Bath University. During the 1980s he served as a councillor on Avon County Council and was Chair of the Education Committee. Don Foster was elected as MP for the Bath constituency in the April 1992 General Election when he defeated Chris Patten with a majority of 3,768.

David Goodhart is the director of Demos. He is the founder and former editor of Prospect magazine, which he set up in 1995. David has grown Prospect into Britain's leading current affairs monthly and he remains the magazine's editor-at-large.David is a prominent figure in public debate in the UK. He is a well-known broadcaster, author, commentator and journalist who regularly contributes to the Guardian, the Independent, the Times and the Financial Times. Before Prospect, David was a correspondent for the Financial Times for 12 years - including a stint in Germany during the unification period. David is currently working on a book, The British Dream, about postwar multiculturalism, national identity and immigration.

Fiyaz Mughal OBE FCMI is on the Board of Directors of Faith Matters. His working history includes over 15 years experience in the community and voluntary sector in positions that have included social policy lobbying, project and general management, conflict resolution work and leading organizations as the Chief Operating Officer. Fiyaz was previously a Councillor in Haringey [masked]) and a Councillor in Oxford [masked]). A previous Deputy President of a mainstream political party in the UK, he has also campaigned heavily on Black and Minority Ethnic (group) inclusion within political parties and discourses. He was also appointed to be on the Working Group for Communities that was linked to the Extremism Task Force developed in 2005 after the 7/7 bombings. In early 2008, Fiyaz was successful in becoming an elected member IDeA Peer Mentor for national work with local authorities on the Preventing Violent Extremism agenda. Fiyaz was honoured in June 2009 by Her Majesty the Queen and was bestowed with the Honour of the Order of the British Empire.

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