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FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN

Dr. Wafik Moustafa is the Founder and Chairman of the British Arab Network. He is one of the UK’s most prominent British Arab personalities and Middle East Experts. He is a distinguished practicing medical doctor (GP), politician, author, historian, and social activist.

Dr. Moustafa is recognised across the world as an advocate and campaigner for freedom, democracy, social justice, secularism and human rights in the Arab world. He stands for the ‘peaceful reformation’ of Islam in the Arab world as a pre-requisite to secular democracy, and supports the integration of Turkey, Israel and Iran into a new Middle East.

He is a much sought after commentator on the Arab world and has articulated his views through numerous TV interviews on Sky, BBC, ITV, CNN, Al Jazeera, CBS News, Russia Today, the Islam Channel, MBC, ANN, ANB, Al Arabyia, Mustaqilla, Saudi, Bahraini, Kuwaiti,  Iraqi, Tunisian, Israeli, Iranian and Egyptian television.

Dr. Moustafa is a bridge between East and West and has a track record of promoting dialogue between the Arab world and the UK to develop greater understanding, mutual respect and to strengthen co-existence. He has taken part in many high level interfaith forums across the globe.  Dr.Moustafa has  participated in and facilitated parliamentary delegations to Egypt, Tunisia, Israel, West Bank and the Golan Heights.   He has a strong connection to and appreciation from the ‘Arab Street’.

Dr. Moustafa has faced many challenges and much adversity in his life but he has always shown integrity, determination, courage and resilience. Dr. Moustafa has made an outstanding contribution to British society through his tireless social and political work for the British and Arab communities in the U.K. over the last 25 years.

Dr. Moustafa was born in Cairo in 1948, where he attended school and college. He studied medicine at Cairo University MB BCh (1974), Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities LRCP LRCS (1981).  Dr. Moustafa arrived in London in 1974, aged 26, to study and work as a doctor. He stayed in the UK because he believed that it was a country that you could be anything you wanted to be, provided you had the passion and determination, and worked hard.

Dr. Moustafa has held several positions in public life, which include, Chairman of the Egyptian Community Association UK (a registered charity), President of the British Arab Medical Association, Board Member of the Arab Jewish Forum, Member of the Review Committee of the Parole Board, Member of the Board of Vistors of HM Prisons, Honorary Secretary of UK Friends of Alexandria Library (Bibliotheca Alexandrina),School Governor, Member of British Medical Association, Member of the Royal Society of Medicine, Patron of the Iraqi Leukemia Foundation and Member of Chatham House.

Dr. Moustafa was the Conservative Party’s Parliamentary candidate in Bootle in the 2005 General Election. He is the former Chairman of the Conservative Arab Network. His work in the Conservative Arab Network, to raise awareness of British-Arab community issues to Parliamentarians, politicians and activists, and for building bridges with the Arab world, was widely recognised and praised by the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. David Cameron MP, former Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon. William Hague MP and former Attorney General Rt. Hon. Dominic Grieve MP.

Dr. Moustafa has organised and participated in successful Roundtables and receptions on critical Arab issues in the British parliament, which were attended by senior British politicians and Arab ambassadors.

Dr Moustafa is a regular speaker on political and human rights platforms across the world. He has spoken at and participated in international events at the United Nations in New York, the US Congress in Washington DC, European Parliament in Brussels, Italian Parliament in Rome, Israel, Egypt, Tunisia, Ramallah, Golan Heights, Paris and London.

On the third anniversary of the Arab Spring in April 2014 , Dr. Moustafa published his book ‘Egypt The Elusive Arab Spring’, in which he presents a confident and wide ranging analysis of the situation in Egypt today, tracing it back to its origins and examining the prospects for the future.   It is an authoritative commentary on Egyptian affairs and casts an eye back over Egypt’s modern history, taking the reader through the landmark events that have formed the modern nation, and brings the reader to a close and impartial understanding of the current political climate in Egypt.

Michael Binyon, leading UK journalist and foreign correspondent of the Times Newspaper, wrote in his introduction to the book, “His account is bracing, sharp and, to many, controversial. He says things that many Arab politicians and opinion-makers would rather not hear said… His criticisms of modern Egypt, a country he still holds dear for all its current difficulties, are those that any politician ought to heed.”

The book was launched in the Italian Parliament in Rome in the presence of Italy’s Foreign Minister, Italian Parliamentarians, and the former Prime Minister’s of Spain, Iceland and Croatia. The UK launch of the book was held at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), which is Britain’s leading defence and security think tank. In July 2014, Dr. Moustafa was a special guest at a discussion about the book, hosted by Lord Sheikh in the House of Lords. The House of Lord’s library has added the book to its collection. The book has been very well received across the world as a balanced and generally impartial account.

In 2008, Dr. Moustafa received a British community award for his outstanding service to all communities. The award was presented to him at the House of Lords by the Shadow Communities Secretary, the Rt. Hon. Eric Pickles MP.

In 2012, the British Egyptian Medical Magazine, featured Dr. Moustafa, as their Personality of the Year, for his tireless work for the British Arab community for over 25 years.

In September 2014, Dr. Moustafa, was featured as a leading public figure, in a two hour live weekend biographical and factual programme, on the BBC Arabic Service, which has 24 million listeners, where he talked about his life story, his musical and newspaper preferences and his book.