Photo source: bloomberg.com
It gives me great pleasure to announce the Bahrain Foundation for Reconciliation and Civil Discourse’s (BFRCD) very first event “Reconciliation Lessons from Northern Ireland.”
The lecture will be conducted by Peter Sheridan OBE. Peter was heavily involved in the sensitive negotiations between the various parading organisations and the residents groups in Londonderry, which resulted in an accommodation that facilitated a series of peaceful parades in the city centre.
He was a police officer for over thirty years and rose through the ranks of Constable to Assistant Chief Constable responsible for Rural Region. He also told me that he was among the 5% Catholics that were in the Protestant police force. What an interesting guy!
As you know, there are a lot of similarities between Bahrain and Northern Ireland, and it would do us well to learn from them. Here are the event details:
Date: Tuesday 19th of June
Place: Awali Ball Room, Sheraton Hotel
Time: 7 pm doors open, event starts at 7:30 pm sharp
This event is open to the public. But please note, seats are limited and will be given on a first come first serve basis. There will be no VIP sofas in the front.
Hope to see you there.
“here’s one lesson from Northern Ireland — release the political prisoners, release Younis Ashoori and hundreds of those alongside him”
http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/2012/6/17/bahrain-opinion-why-younis-ashooris-imprisonment-points-to-r.html
In N. Ireland the sectarian problems were a symptom of a political problem. And ultimately, the solution had to be a political one. The exact same thing is true in Bahrain.
I hope many people attend this event and take something home from it even if a political solution does not seem to be forthcoming at the moment.