N.O.R.F Posted May 9, 2008 Al Waleed gives $15.7m to Cambridge and Edinburgh varsities Bloomberg Published: May 08, 2008, 18:21 London: Saudi billionaire Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal, the biggest shareholder in Citigroup Inc., gave 8 million pounds ($15.7 million) each to the UK universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh to start Islamic studies research centers. Alwaleed signed an agreement on Wednesday at London's Buckingham Palace in the company of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Chancellor of both universities, the Arab investor's Riyadh-based Kingdom Foundation said in an e-mailed statement on Thursday. "It is paramount for both Islam and the West to reach mutual ground for proactive dialogue, respect, acceptance and tolerance," Al Waleed said in the statement. http://www.gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi_arabia/10211680.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted May 9, 2008 I'm often critical of this guy but not this time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gordon Gekko Posted May 9, 2008 He has made similar donations to Harvards Islamic Center and it is indeed admirable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted May 9, 2008 Then again, is he trying to buy Arab/Islam admiration? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gordon Gekko Posted May 9, 2008 In that case his most probably just trying to market 'The Kingdom' which he always boasts about. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
STOIC Posted May 9, 2008 Clearly this will create a sense of fluidity and opportunity between American and Muslims political and cultural discourse that had not been present. This is one man sought to occupy center stage, harnessing all his wealth, to direct and mold the History of Islam and Christianity relation. He started the same kind of program at Georgetown University called Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal center for Muslim-Christian understanding where Modern Islamic Scholars like John Espositos are part of the Center. I think it is a noble idea to start such programs in major Universities in the West to bridge the gap between Islam and the West-Where else can it be better to do that than in where the minds of the young people are molded? Indeed Institutions like this are where ideas and policies are shaped. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Koora-Tuunshe Posted May 11, 2008 ^good point. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
