Fes Festival at the British House of Commons

MP Khalid Mahmood addresses the meeting, while Mary Finnigan, Fatima Sadiqi, Mushtaq Lashari, Saundra Satterlee and others listen

Fes Festival of World Sacred Music UK Co-ordinator Mary Finnigan was on the speaker’s platform at the British House of Commons for a meeting to foster links between the Fes Festival and the UK charity Third World Solidarity. Here’s her report.

It was billed as a “low key event” – just a few people getting together with an All Party Parliamentary group in Committee Room 10 to hear speeches and have a drink afterwards. But on the night, every seat was filled, Moroccan TV news was there and so too was the BBC World Service – together with other assorted journalists, Fouad Kadmiri the Moroccan Cultural Attaché, the Chairman of the Temenos Academy Sir Nicholas Pearson, Festival sound engineer Chris Ekers, UK Spirit of Fes Representative Lynn Evans Davidson and Members of Parliament Khalid Mahmood, Mohammed Sarwar and the host for evening David Anderson.

David Anderson opened the proceedings with a welcoming speech, but like all MPs when the House is sitting, he was a slave to the division bell and had to leave immediately afterwards. Mushtaq Lashari from Third World Solidarity took over the Chair, assisted by American journalist Saundra Satterlee. Speeches highlighting the shared perspectives of the Fes Encounters forum and Third World Solidarity followed, then the new Spirit of Fes Foundation Director General Fatima Sadiqi gave the keynote address.

Fatima spoke eloquently about her time at Essex University, her love of England and her deep respect for her post graduate teacher – a professor with a formidable reputation. The core message of her speech was an affirmation of the spiritual values that underpin the activities of the Spirit of Fes Foundation.

At question time Sir Nicholas Pearson expressed his long-held wish that Fes should become a place of pilgrimage for spiritual seekers of all persuasions – a genuine multi-faith, multi-cultural meeting place where differences can be peacefully explored and similarities celebrated; a crucible for open-hearted enquiry and discussion – a counter-balance to confrontational religious politics.

Afterwards we processed in somewhat chaotic groups to Portcullis House, the modernist extension to the House of Commons, for the reception. The ambiance was relaxed and very happy. Nick Pearson described the entire proceedings as “a triumph”. Everyone involved felt that it had generated large amounts of positive energy.

Big thanks to David Anderson MP, Mushtaq Lashari and Saundra Satterlee from Third World Solidarity for setting up, financing and hosting this wonderful and useful occasion. I am sure everyone hopes for ongoing fruitful collaboration.

Fatima Sadiqi is interviewed for Moroccan TV

Photos: Adel Zarea



Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news