World Security Forum
“This version of Islam. . . is just the opposite of our prejudices and stereotypes”
Short film documents political breakthrough, establishing “a concrete basis for cooperation between Islamic countries and Western, Christian democratic nations”
“This is key for the European Union”
VIENNA, Austria: The Vienna-based World Security Forum has released a short film (09’38”) that documents the transformative impact of “Humanitarian Islam” upon European perceptions of the Islamic faith, and its potential to reshape political and socio-cultural relations between the Muslim world and the West.
The film was shot on location in and around Yogyakarta, Indonesia—the heartland of traditional Javanese culture—during a gathering of the world’s largest political network, Centrist Democrat International (CDI).
Those familiar with current political dynamics in Europe may be surprised by, and will probably recognize the significance of, Zsolt Németh—Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Hungary’s National Assembly—stating: “It is high time to realize that we have bad, negative stereotypes about Islam. Partially, this can be explained, but we should extend our attention to Indonesia, the biggest—and democratic—Islamic country in the world.”
The Secretary General of Centrist Democrat International and the European People’s Party, Antonio López-Istúriz White, observed that “Through the CDI, we can build this privileged partnership between [Indonesia’s largest Islamic political party] PKB and European parties. There is so much that we can do together.”
World Security Forum—an international platform and “safe space” for the discussion of at-times sensitive topics related to international peace and security—is a brand of Asimetric Consulting GmbH. Its founder and CEO, Iván Calabuig, is a national security practitioner and advisor who specializes in political philosophy and the complex dynamics associated with the emergence—and mitigation—of religious/ideological supremacism, separatism and political violence.
Mr. Calabuig has held senior positions in government and international organizations including the European Union, the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In this capacity, he has worked in headquarters and field locations on five continents in low-, medium- and high-risk environments, and has collaborated with LibForAll Foundation, Bayt ar-Rahmah, Gerakan Pemuda Ansor and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) since 2006, 2014 and 2015 respectively. In 2018, Mr. Calabuig’s World Security Forum facilitated the accession of Indonesia’s fourth-largest political party—the Nahdlatul Ulama-based PKB—to Centrist Democrat International.
PKB’s Emissary to CDI and the European People’s Party is Kyai Haji Yahya Cholil Staquf, General Secretary of the Nahdlatul Ulama Supreme Council and co-founder of the Humanitarian Islam movement.
Address of NU General Secretary KH. Yahya Cholil Staquf to security agencies of 28 EU Member States, during a monthly counter-terrorism working group meeting (TWG) in the Council of the European Union, under the Estonian Presidency (2017)
[The Power] Within, by Niluh Sudarti, 2019. Acrylic on canvas. The painting depicts a Javanese asymmetrical dagger, or keris, which is believed to possess supernatural power to protect the owner, his family and his home (or nation, when possessed by a king)
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