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iENGAGE ENGAGE or iENGAGE? On its website119, all logos and related identity appear to favour ENGAGE whereas the APPG website states that the Secretariat is iENGAGE 120. This might seem superficial but it raises a pertinent question about the outward-face of the organisation, namely that it is confusing. Acknowledging iENGAGE’s response to Goodman’s question
about
“who
staffs” the organisation121, it
is
difficult
understand
to
fully
what
the
…This lack of information could be misconstrued as suspicious…
organisation does. Its website – its ‘public face’ – provides access to its aims and objectives, a Muslim-relevant media feed, information about its media monitoring, a section titled ‘Politics’ that provides information about some of its campaign work and a link providing access to Hansard. There are no details about iENGAGE’s current or forthcoming activities, no details of who works for or is behind iENGAGE, or indeed how it is funded albeit by charitable donations122. This lack of information could be construed as suspicious. In the current environment where much has been made of the way in which some Muslim organisations are funded, who is behind them and who they have affiliations with, it might have been sensible for iENGAGE – having been appointed Secretariat – to have provided additional information: to ensure that its ‘public face’ to those who may want to know more following its appointment appeared open and transparent. It would also have reduced the opportunities for critics to exploit any lack of information or clarity for detrimental effect.
119
http://www.iengage.org.uk/home http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/islamophobia.htm 121 http://iengage.org.uk/component/content/article/1-news/1135-engage-responds-to-paul-goodman 122 Correct as of 11-14 July 2011 120