New forum for Islamic art launches at House of Lords to celebrate 'shared human journey'

A new organisation aimed at promoting Islamic arts and heritage has launched at the House of Lords in Westminster.

More than a hundred people packed into a room in the House of Lords to mark the opening of the Forum for Islamic Art, Architecture & Cultural Heritage, spearheaded by Baroness Nosheena Mobarik, a prominent Conservative peer. 

The forum says its mission is to "celebrate and share the intellectual and cultural achievements of Islamic civilisation" and to provide a "platform for dialogue, education, and public engagement".

Guests included over two dozen British peers, several ambassadors from Muslim-majority countries and figures in the fields of architecture and cultural heritage.

Walid Iqbal, the prominent Pakistani politician and grandson of the renowned poet-philosopher Sir Muhammad Iqbal, was in attendance. 

Some guests remarked that the forum, sponsored by the Adam Foundation, has come at an important time amid a surge in anti-Muslim hatred

Mobarik said that the forum will hold a year-long series of seminars and other events designed to encourage politicians and the public at large explore Islam's artistic and architectural heritage.

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"For centuries," the baroness said, "our cultures have influenced one another, shared knowledge, exchanged ideas, and enriched each other’s worlds.

"The story of civilisation is not one of parallel histories, but of intertwined ones - a shared human journey of
creativity, discovery, and understanding."

The event included speeches and presentations by some of the most prominent figures in Islamic art in the UK.

Noorah al-Gailani, curator of the British Museum's Islamic Collections, showed guests a presentation of some of its exhibits.

Professor Farrokh Derakhshani, the chair of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, also gave a speech and challenged guests to consider what makes art "Islamic" or not. 

Iranian-born artist Jila Peacock spoke about the great medieval Persian poet Hafez, and guests watched a short animated film based on Peacock's book about Hafez's work. 

"This forum is about seeing societies in a positive light," Mobarik said.

"Recognising how wonderfully multifaceted we are, and ensuring young people can appreciate each other’s heritage and understand how our cultures and histories have converged to make us who we are."