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Fawziya was born in
Bahrain on
24 March 1944
and died in London
on 12 June 1998.
She was educated in Bahrain, Iraq and Kuwait and graduated from Damascus
University with a BA degree in Philosophy and Social Studies and this was
followed by MA in International Relation from the University of Southern
California and a PhD thesis at the LSE entitled ‘GCC: Integration or
Confrontation’
Fawziya was active in
the Students Unions and Women’s Movements of
Iraq, Syria, Palestine & Arabia during the
1960’s.
She worked as a
journalist and writer on international affairs for several magazines and
wrote and presented a weekly radio programme on world intellectual figures
(Baghdad 1968-1970).
She joined
the UAE Embassy in
London
in 1974 as press officer and information specialist, becoming
the Head of the Information Department in 1986. During
this period she was also Liaison officer on the World of Islam
Festival (1976), a member of the executive committee of the
Arab Club of Britain between
1983-1985 and board member of the Arab Educational and Cultural
Forum since its establisHment in 1989.
Fawziya was founder and principal of the
Arabic
School
in Ealing since 1984.
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Fawzia
with Yasir Arafat and Afif Safieh |
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Fawzia
Dallal Al-Falaki
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Fawzia and Dhia Al-Falaki |
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Fawziya was married to Dia Al Falaki and they had three children, Reem,
Layth and Rana |
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Both Dhia and Fawzia had a pivotal role in pioneering the
Arab cause in the UK. Dhia was the Founder and Chairman of the Arab Club
in Britain in the early 1980s. Their efforts and dedication will be remembered
for generation to come. Fawzia was his inspiration and his right hand.
They put the foundation for Arab political and cultural work in the
UK. |
Afif
Safieh
Palestinian General Delegate to the UK
I used to introduce Fawziya to people as; ‘the inspiration
of the Arab Diplomatic Corps, a pillar of the British – Arab community
here in
London.
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Mr Majed Jawad Al
Jishi
It is impossible to
think about Fawziya without recalling her great warmth and kindness.
She was genuinely selfless and compassionate woman who also made
time for those around her, embracing them with her love, affection and
hospitality. She was also a
woman of enormous courage and dignity which she was displayed until the
very end and throughout her life. Fawziya
was driven by her love of the Arab world.
Although she left us early, we thank God for having allowed our
lives to be touched by her.
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George Galaway MP
She will never leave our
memory and will always be remembered in the warmest way.
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Bernard
Mills
Former Director of CAABU
–
I will always remember her for her
great charm and vivacity, a joy to talk to at diplomatic and other
functions and for her many acts, kindness and help to me whilst I was at
CAABU.
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David
Lay
Managing
Editor of Oxford
Analytica
Essentially, to the last, Fawziya was an Arab and a
Muslim; but politically as an Arab nationalist and as an intellectual, she
had a mind which enabled her to transcend national frontiers, ethnicity
and religious exclusivity. …We
have a saying in English that someone is a “walking encyclopaedia”.
Fawziya was more than that; she was a bookshelf of encyclopaedias.
I and others learned so much from her, and we were enriched by the
experience.
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Leila
Fanoos
Head
of Information Department Qatar
Embassy,
London
Fawziya was really here to build bridges; bridges of
communication, of tolerance and understanding, of harmony and friendship.
Fawziya, this one fragile individual functioned like a well-run
organization, because of her this was not simply a career but a commitment
for life.
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top
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· Fawziya
was awarded the L.V.O. (Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order) in 1989.
·
She was a member of the Foreign Press Association and correspondent
for the UAE News Agency from 1991.
· Associate Member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham
House) and the Centre of Near & Middle Eastern Studies (SOAS).
·
Regular attendee at the annual conferences of
the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democratic parties since 1968.
She was a focal point for Arab activities and a major lobbyist for
Arab causes.
·
Participant in over 100 conferences, seminars and round table
discussions on the following subjects: The Arab-Israeli conflict, the
Arabian Gulf, Iraq, Iran, Oil, Water, Education, Women, Arab Unity & Islam.
· Advocate
of Arab Nationalism playing a major role in several organisations. Her
last responsibility on this front was at the 7th Arab National
Conference in Casablanca in 1997 where she was in charge of the Media.
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Fawzia,
Dhia and Dr Khairildeen Hasseb
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