GULF STUDENTS COMMEMORATE LONDON DEAD

7th July 2006

A group of female students from the Gulf States on a visit to Scotland will take part in the national two-minute silence to remember victims of last year’s July 7 bombings.



The students from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are taking part in a summer school organised by the Al-Maktoum Institute in Dundee.



A similar group were in Dundee last year when the bombings took place. By coincidence they were receiving a lecture at the time from France Guy, Head of the Engaging with the Islamic World Group from the Foreign Office.



Fifty-two people died and a further 700 were injured when suicide bombers detonated devices on the London underground and on a bus.



Al-Maktoum Institute intend to hold a remembrance service that will be attended by all 39 students from the Gulf, members of staff, the four Honorary Fellows of the Institute and the Lord Mayor of Wurzburg, Dr Pia Beckmann.



Wurzburg is twinned with Dundee and the German city’s university signed an agreement with the Institute in September last year.



As part of the remembrance ceremony there will be a balloon launch at the end of the two-minute silence that is to take place at 12 noon. There will be 52 balloons, one for each person who died, and all will have a card attached with the name of one of the victims.



Professor Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi, Principal of Al-Maktoum Institute, said:



“The memorial service on July 7 will be a poignant moment. We were all shocked at the events that took place a year ago.



“What was even more shocking was to discover that the suicide bombers were young British Muslims and not Muslim fundamentalists from a foreign land.



“The young women who are attending this year’s summer school are here to learn about multiculturalism and leadership. Those who died included people of different race and religion. The terrorist bombs do not recognise race, colour or creed.



“ The only way to beat extremism is through education and I hope our visitors will take positive messages about multiculturalism back with them to the Gulf at the end of their three week stay.”