Electronic Network for Arab-West Understanding
The Electronic Network for Arab-West Understanding (ENAWU)[1] is a specialized information network that links together a network of think-tanks and information repositories in the West and the Arab world.
Background of ENAWU
The establishment of this network was funded by the Anna Lindh Foundation, the German development organization Misereor, and others.
The network was launched on June 5, 2008 by Prince Hassan bin Talal in Jordan. Project directors are Cornelis Hulsman and Sawsan Gabra Ayoub Khalil.[2]
The Objective of ENAWU
ENAWU aims to foster relations and dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims by providing access to accurate, credible, and reliable information for use by scholars, diplomats, journalists, students, other researchers and general users. Improving public understanding of the contemporary Islamic world in non-Muslim countries and, similarly, improving public understanding of the contemporary non-Muslim world in Islamic countries can be accomplished by strengthening, improving and expanding reporting. Reporting that will necessarily include analysis of Arab-West cultural issues, religious issues, and other key factors that involve civil society in the Arab world and the West. ENAWU aims at changing the ways in which sensitive topics involving people belonging to other cultures or religions are discussed, stressing the need to refrain from polemics, exaggerations, and other forms of distortion. The ENAWU portal uses the Arab-West Report as a springboard for discussions, recently encouraging interactive online forum discussions on the controversial film 'Fitna' by Dutch MP Geert Wilders.[3]