Strategy of Islamic Cultural Action in the West

Adopted at the Ninth Islamic Summit Conference held in Doha – State of Qatar, 2000

Implementation Mechanisms

There is no doubt that translating this strategy into reality would require the setting up of structures liable to help carry out the Islamic cultural action in the West. It is, therefore, necessary to work out mechanisms regulating the bodies to implement the strategy and specify the role of each one of them.

These mechanisms were thought out on the level of each individual European country and geographical regions to guarantee the comprehensiveness of the strategy as well as its applicability all over Europe.

The individual-country-basis was adopted to ensure a step-by-step evolution of the Islamic cultural and educational action and to guarantee the best possible care and interest thereto. The approach is meant to lead to a progressive and gradual development culminating in broader implementation mechanisms for the Islamic cultural action in Europe at large. The main objectives are as follows :

1. Local Councils for Culture and Education :

- These councils should be set up on the level of each European country hosting a Muslim community, on account that these councils are the main organs expected to translate the strategy for Islamic cultural action into practical, viable programmes.

- Educational and cultural programmes and plans benefitting Muslim communities should be set up by these councils, which should build on the main objectives and guidelines of the strategy for Islamic cultural action in the West and adapt its implementation to the specificities and conditions of the country where they operate.

- These councils are also entrusted with the coordination of actions undertaken by Islamic centres, associations, institutions, clubs and Mosques by sharing the educational fields of action, and by urging them to most of  educational and cultural  activities relevant to the objectives sought by the strategy of cultural action in the West.

- Local councils for culture and education are run by an elected bureau whose members shall be active agents operating in the social, educational and cultural fields in the  relevant country. Representation of the above-mentioned Islamic centres and institutions on the bureau is, indeed, advisable. The  councils’ meetings shall be attended by representatives of regional funds financing Islamic cultural action in the West. (see Organization Chart).

2. Regional funds for financing Islamic cultural action

These regional funds shall be set up in three distinct geographical zones covering the European countries. Each fund shall  secure financing for the programmes worked out under the Islamic cultural action in the given geographical zone which shall include at least three countries. The funds will work in concertation with the national councils on education and culture and shall attend their meetings. Further, they shall fund such Islamic cultural and educational programmes, on the broader European level, as school and mosque-building, library equipment,  staff-training, cultural fairs, meetings and festivals.

3. The Supreme Council  for Education and Culture in the West

- A supreme council  for education and culture shall be set up in the West. It shall be representative of all  local councils  for education and culture, operating under its banner. Its board shall be elected from among educational and cultural actors  in the West. This shall also include Active personalities and experts, as well as representatives of ISESCO, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Fund for Support to the Islamic Cultural Action in Europe.

The Supreme Council shall also contain standing committees specialized in the  different fields underlying the Strategy of Islamic Cultural Action in the West  namely:

- Cultural affairs Committee;

- Social affairs Committee;

- Education Committee;

- Information and public relations Committee;

- Legal Da’wa, administrative and organizational affairs Committee

- Coordination, follow-up  and documentation Committee

 -The Supreme Council for Education and Culture shall shape out the final framework of implementation of the strategy for Islamic cultural action in the west and translate it into a living reality, in an attempt to achieve our ultimate goal of fostering the active presence of Muslims on the European cultural arena. It shall also ensure the following :

- Laying down viable plans and programmes to be implemeted in each individual European country. It should leave full liberty to the local councils for culture and education to work out the details of those plans and programmes in accordance with the regulations in force  in each country and in line with their specific human and financial resources.

- Coordinating relations linking up public cultural institutions and facilities within the same country, on the  one hand, and securing consonance among the cultural plans and programmes as well as ensuring exchange of expertise among European countries, on the other.

- Regulating and coordinating Islamic cultural action on the level of European countries, specifying the main tendencies thereof , and supplying adequate and necessary material and human resources.

- Extending assistance, expertise and technical counsel to local councils for culture and education, and find solutions to the difficulties posed by the implementation of plans and programmes.

- The higher council for culture and education will be proclaimed as the main  interlocutor and official mouthpiece vis-à-vis European cultural and educational authorities in matters related to the Muslim community on the European as well as the national levels.

-This council will serve as a mechanism for planning and coordination, whose means and procedures have to be functionally coherent in order to issue  binding recommendations and resolutions. Only then will cultural and educational action gain an integrated character in all European countries as it will be contrived and managed by all institutions boasting a vast experience in cultural action on the European arena (see organization chart).

4. Islamic Fund for the Support of Cultural Action in Europe:

This Fund will be set up for the purpose of coordinating the work of the afore-mentioned regional funds to promote Islamic cultural action in European countries. It shall be  managed by a board of directors chaired by a director who shall participate in the meetings of the Higher Council for Education and Culture.

Financial resources will be allocated to this Fund. They shall consist of donations and assistance from countries and Islamic organizations, such as the European Union and the Council of Europe. The Fund shall also coordinate with the other financing sources, including investors, capital holders and benefactors in order to encourage them to invest in the Islamic cultural field for the benefit of the Muslim community in Europe (see organization chart).