MEDIA RELEASE

AWARENESS FOUNDATION’S DIRECTOR ADDRESSES WIDE BBC AUDIENCE ON LIBYA

(28th February 2011, AF)

“Christians in the Middle East entering exciting new era that could redefine interfaith relationships globally”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Christians in the Middle East who belong to the social fabrics of the societies, are entering an exciting era, that I believe will emerge from the current conflicts there. This era could redefine interfaith relationships globally,” so said the Revd Nadim Nassar, Director of the Awareness Foundation, speaking to the BBC Radio 2 audiences throughout England on Sunday morning regarding the current situation in Libya and the Middle East in general.  He was interviewed by11 different regional stations covering all of England, from Cornwall to London, Newcastle and York to Jersey.

 He said, “The winds of change are blowing and cannot be stopped and resisted”. The only Syrian Anglican priest in the Church of England spoke with candour about Col Gaddafi and how this “mad” man was viewed by people in the Middle East and made it clear the dictator “did not reflect Muslim beliefs nor was his behaviour consistent with the often good relationships between faiths in the region” but had authored his own book, The Green Book, which Fr Nassar called bizarre. “Gaddafi’s regime had made Libya a prison the people  decided that it is time for the walls of this prison to come down,” he said.

“Christians and Muslims live side by side for many years in many parts of the Middle East, especially in Egypt,” he said. “The scenes of Muslims protecting Christians at prayer, and the same with Christians guarding mosques in Egypt was a poignant reminder that evil is not tolerated by either faith community,” said the 46 year old priest, who himself was in theological training during the Civil War in Lebanon for some seven years.

Father Nassar stated that these power struggles in the Middle East have never been motivated by religion, but now the effects of globalisation have enabled young people to see what others are doing, as in Tunisia and causes a rippling effect.

“It was good to share with such a vast audience the work of the Awareness Foundation and how our courses attempt to address ignorance and urge understanding and respect of people of all faiths and world views,” said Father Nassar.

The Foundation is a Christian educational resource for all churches and communities. It details are found at www.awareness-foundation.com.  An 8-week Awareness Course is just finishing this week at St Pauls Church Knightsbridge and Father Nassar will be part of a Lenten series on Middle East voices to be held at The Wesley’s Chapel in the City of London with Lord Leslie Griffiths.

A special programme centred on 9/11 called Awareness Sunday will be announced soon.  A service will be held at Westminster Abbey on 9/11 at 6.30 p.m. to which all are welcome.

ENDS

Contact: Dr Jim Rosenthal, Communications Director on  020 7730 8830 0r 07742 856 149 for information or interview requests.

MEDIA RELEASE

COPTIC DISASTER

(5th January 2011, AF)

"Worshippers killed in car bomb attack on Egyptian church" (Headline, The Times)

It grieves us at the Awareness Foundation to see the tragedy of this attack on Coptic Christians in Alexandria, Egypt, a place where Muslims and Christians have lived together for many centuries. We pledge our prayers and concerns to all who are persecuted or live in fear for proclaiming their faith, whatever that faith may be. What we in the west often seem only to appreciate at Christmas is, for Christians in the Middle East, a central part of their day by day existence, identity and for which - in some countries in the region - they can be harassed, discriminated against or worse.

Christians, Jews and Muslims must unite in condemnation of such killing and act together to pursue peace with justice for all. The Awareness Foundation offered a special service for those killed in Egypt on Sunday 2 January in London.

Signed: The Revd Nadim Nassar, Director

Father Nassar is a Syrian born Anglican priest in London

MEDIA RELEASE

AWARENESS COURSE LAUNCHED AT ECUMENICAL GATHERING

(16 June 2010, AF)

Clergy and church leaders from Anglican, Roman Catholic, Reformed and Baptist churches were among the guests last night in Kensington celebrating the launch of the new course materials and website of the Awareness Foundation.

Speaking of the course module, Citizens of Two Kingdoms, Father Chris Cawrse, Holy Cross Anglican Church, Cromer Street, London said, “This is exactly what we need at Holy Cross.” Others present included supporters, staff and volunteers of the Awareness Foundation.

The Revd Nadim Nassar, Director of the Awareness Foundation, was joined by the Rt Revd Michael Marshall, co-author and founder of the course and foundation, Canon James Rosenthal, former Anglican Communion Communications head and now at the London Internet Church and assisting the Foundation, Mr St.John Wright, Education Director, and Miss Huda Nassar, Middle East Director. Charles Longbottom, Chairman, hosted the evening’s gathering.

Simon Keyes of St Ethelburga’s Centre in London said, “the website and materials look magnificent.”

Father Nadim said, “Our courses begin where some of the other excellent courses leave off.” He continued, “we trust our work and courses will help Christians grow in confidence of faith and make a real difference in this world of increasing difference and diversity.”

The website address is: www.awareness-foundation.com

Father Nadim is available for interview and speaking engagements.

Contact St. John Wright on 0207 730 8830 or Jim Rosenthal on 07742 856 149.

Press media packs are available for review.

Canon Jim Rosenthal

07742 856 149

MEDIA ADVISORY

ANGLICAN AWARENESS PRIEST NADIM NASSAR TACKLES ARAB ISSUES ON BBC ARABIC ‘OPEN AGENDA’ ELECTION PROGRAMME

Awareness Foundation director to discuss Muslim/Arab issues in Britain on election eve broadcast.

(28 April 2010, AF Communications, London)

The only Syrian Anglican priest in the Anglican world will take part in an important election eve broadcast on ITN.

Called Open Agenda, the programme is an Election Eve Special episode that will   “tackle the issues of Arabs and Muslims in Britain in an attempt to provide an insight to our viewers in the Middle East”, according to the BBC Arabic producer.

There will be 3 segments:

• The integration of Arabs and Muslims (Education, Jobs, Religious Freedoms)
• The difficulties facing them (Discrimination, Lack of opportunities)
• Their political stances ahead of elections (How effective of a lobbying power are they, aspirations for forthcoming government)

Using the format of the popular Question Time, the gathering is “an attempt to spark a lively, intelligent debate in our studio between the participants and our panel”.

Father Nadim Nassar is the director of the Awareness Foundation in London and is a much sought-after conference speaker and preacher.  He is co-author of the Awareness Course,  www.awareness-foundation.com.

The Open Agenda special will air the night before elections, May 5 2010.

ENDS

Father Nadim is available for comment. (After the programme an English summary will be released.)

Contact: The Revd James Rosenthal, Communication Officer

0207 730 8830, Mobile 07742 856 149