Noel Park councillor Fiyaz Mughal has been chosen by the Liberal Democrat party leader, Nick Clegg, as his new national adviser for Interfaith Work and Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism.

Fiyaz, who is CEO of Enfield Citizens’ Advice Bureau and a past Vice President of the party, also pilots his own charity focussed on bridge-building in Israel, called Faith Matters.

The appointment will support local Liberal Democrats plans to make a national impact next week at their Bournemouth Party Conference with a Fringe Debate entitled “Islam: conflict or opportunity?” The event includes guest speakers Lee Jasper and Oxford Professor Tariq Ramadan, and is chaired by Cllr Mughal.

Cllr John Oakes, fringe event organiser and the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Community Involvement, commented:

“The news of this appointment confirms Fiyaz as a major player in the reconciliation field – one which is vitally important if we in this country are to pull off the biggest multicultural experiment in the world – which is what the UK’s social mix now is.

“And now our party Leader has confirmed my instincts by appointing Cllr Mughal, who will chair our fringe event, as his national adviser on inter-faith dialogue.

“Liberal Democrats are in the forefront of this huge effort, hence the title of our fringe event, which we think highlights the greatest cultural fault-line in the world today.”

Cllr Fiyaz Mughal (Noel Park) comments:

“The Liberal Democrats have a vision of community safety and tackling extremism and radicalism which does not isolate certain faith communities, but actively tries to engage with them.

“Haringey is one of the most diverse boroughs in London and it is vital that we use this vision to engage our communities.”

Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat party leader, commented:

“I am proud of the links that already exist between the Liberal Democrats and minority groups across Britain. However, I am very conscious that we have to do more to engage with minority communities and this team will help us do that.

“I know from travelling around the country that there are so many members of minority ethnic communities who share Liberal Democrat values, and I’m delighted to have such a talented group focusing on the crucial issues which affect them.”