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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 1d

Far from a democratic turning point, Syria’s election sidelined #accountability, limited representation & failed to meet basic standards.

💬 “Creating the appearance of representative governance through a tightly controlled legislative body is not the solution.”

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 1d

🗳️⚖️ New Op-ed by Mohammad Al Abdallah, Jalal Alhamad & Riad Ali

On 5 Oct, #Syria held its first parliamentary #elections since regime change — but the process entrenched executive control, sidelining accountability and reform.

🔗 Read: fpc.org.uk/op-ed-the-fi...

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 2d

⬆️Explore insights on #TransitionalJustice, #LegalReform & #InternationalEngagement

Chaired by Mark Stephens CBE, the event featured:

• Yumen Hallaq (SNHR)
• Sana Kikhia (SLDP)
• Dr Maria Kastrinou (Brunel)
• Alan Haji (SJAC)
• Mariana Karkoutly (Huquqyat)
• Prof Simon Mabon (SEPAD)

Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 2d

🧭 New expert briefing: ‘#Syria’s transition nine months on’

Our roundtable, co-hosted with @ibahri.bsky.social & @sepad.bsky.social, brought together Syrian and international experts to assess the political & legal transition following Assad’s fall.

🔗- fpc.org.uk/expert-brief...

Expert Briefing: ‘Syria’s transition nine months on: Examining frameworks for international justice and accountability’ - The Foreign Policy Centre

On 9th September 2025, the Foreign Policy Centre (FPC), the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and the University of Lancaster’s Sectarianism, Proxies and Desectarianisati...

fpc.org.uk

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 6d

🔹 Rule of law framed as key to UK’s global identity
🔹 David Lammy outlined Labour’s “#ProgressiveRealism”
🔹 Aid cuts & future funding raised across fringes
🔹 Calls to protect #UKsoftpower & the #BBCWorldService
💷 Illicit Finance Summit confirmed for 2026

Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 6d

🔴 FPC at Labour Party Conference 2025
The FPC team was in Liverpool engaging with civil society, decision-makers & party members on issues at the core of our work — from anti-corruption & #SLAPPs to diplomacy, #ForeignPolicy & democratic resilience.

Key takeaways ⬇️

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 12d

🔴 Next stop: Labour Party Conference (28 Sept–1 Oct, Liverpool). See you there!

Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 12d

📢 As co-chair of the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition, Susan used the conference to engage on legal intimidation and SLAPPs — with the Lib Dems currently the only UK party with a formal anti-SLAPP commitment in their manifesto.
🔗 antislapp.uk/about/

📸 Take a look at FPC’s time in Bournemouth ⬇️

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 12d

Susan spoke on two panels:

🔹 Fighting Corruption & Oligarchs in the Era of Trump (UK Anti-Corruption Coalition) – on the UK’s role in enabling global financial crime & SLAPPs.

🔹 Power, Purpose, Perception (Bond) – spotlighting insights from our new soft power report:
📘 fpc.org.uk/wp-content/u...

fpc.org.uk

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 12d

🟡 FPC at Lib Dem Party Conference

From 20–23 Sept, Susan Coughtrie (FPC Exec Director) and Stevie Wolfe (APPG Anti-Corruption) joined the Lib Dem Conference in Bournemouth.

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 13d

Our 2020 article by journalists Peter Sabo & Pavla Holcová remains highly relevant — tracing how UK-linked entities & offshore jurisdictions enable corruption & block justice.

📖 Read it here: fpc.org.uk/tracking-cor...

Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 13d

🔎 Strengthening Financial Transparency

This week, UK Anti-Corruption Champion Baroness Hodge visited the BVI to assess progress on beneficial ownership registers — vital tools to expose illicit finance & corporate secrecy.

💡 A topic the Foreign Policy Centre has long explored ⬇️

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 16d

If you missed it — or want to revisit — read FPC’s report on the future of UK soft power:

📘 Playing to our strengths: The future of the UK’s soft power in foreign policy

🔗 fpc.org.uk/publications...

Playing to our strengths: The future of the UK’s soft power in foreign policy - The Foreign Policy Centre

fpc.org.uk

Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 16d

Timely reflection from @fabianhamilton.bsky.social highlighting the strategic value of UK soft power.

🗨️ “The FPC’s latest Soft Power Report could not have been more timely...if we invest in our strengths, we’ll help shape the solutions."”

🔽 Read the article: www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

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Reposted by Foreign Policy Centre

UK Anti-Corruption Coalition @ukanticorruptioncoalition.org · 21d

LABOUR: UKACC x @thefabians.bsky.social : Brave New World? Fighting Corruption in the New Trump Era.

Featuring @margarethodge.bsky.social, @philbrickellmp.bsky.social, @liambyrnemp.bsky.social, and @suehawley.bsky.social.

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Reposted by Foreign Policy Centre

UK Anti-Corruption Coalition @ukanticorruptioncoalition.org · 20d

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS: Brave New World: Fighting Corruption and Oligarchs in an era of Trump.

Featuring @dominicmartin.bsky.social, Mike Martin MP, @richardfoordld.bsky.social, @edwardlucas.bsky.social, and @skcoughtrie.bsky.social.

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 19d

FPC welcomes this, but key concerns remain:
⚠️ No clear data on how many are affected
⚠️ No effective mechanism to report incidents
⚠️ Review findings remain unpublished

As part of the Tackling TNR in the UK Working Group, we call for stronger action.
fpc.org.uk/programmes/t...

Tackling Transnational Repression - The Foreign Policy Centre

fpc.org.uk

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 19d

💡Great to see @philbrickellmp.bsky.social raise a written Q on the UK Gov’s assessment of TNR over the past 5 years.

Dan Jarvis MP replied, citing the Defending Democracy Taskforce’s review, saying the UK won’t tolerate foreign intimidation.
📄 www.parallelparliament.co.uk/question/746...

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 20d

📢 The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal ruled: the hearings will be public and filings disclosed.

Public scrutiny of these processes, which are connected to matters of public interest, are important and the British public should not be kept in the dark.

🔗 taxpolicy.org.uk/2025/09/18/c...

Carter-Ruck and OneCoin: libel firm’s SDT cover-up collapses

Carter-Ruck acted for the $4bn OneCoin fraud and threatened critics. The SRA is prosecuting them at the SDT. Read all filings and history here.

taxpolicy.org.uk

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 20d

🔔 New from Tax Policy Associates: Carter-Ruck used legal threats to defend OneCoin and later sought anonymity in an attempt to keep the professional conduct hearings of one of its partners behind closed doors

FPC joined fellow NGOs pushing back to ensure open justice.

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 23d

🌍🗳️ Today is the International Day of Democracy.

At FPC, democratic values shape our work - from engaging with civil society and governance institutions, to examining authoritarian trends and transnational repression.

🔗 Explore: fpc.org.uk/issues/democ...

Democracy and Elections Archives - The Foreign Policy Centre

fpc.org.uk

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 26d

📬 The letters call for:
🔹 Reaffirming illicit finance as a strategic priority
🔹 Hosting the planned intl. summit
🔹 Embedding accountability into UK foreign policy

At FPC we see anti-corruption as key to defending democracy, rule of law & UK global credibility.

Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 26d

🗞️💷 Sustaining UK leadership on countering #IllicitFinance:

FPC Director Susan Coughtrie joined leading voices urging Deputy PM David Lammy & Foreign Sec Yvette Cooper to ensure the UK remains a global leader in the fight against dirty money.

📄 Read the two open letters:

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Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 28d

💡 Key themes discussed:
– Gaps between legal commitments & practice
– Power concentration & weak judicial independence
– Ongoing detentions, GBV & impunity
– Assad-era legacies & foreign influence

🎙️ Thanks to our brilliant speakers & partners IBAHRI + @sepad.bsky.social

Foreign Policy Centre @fpcthinktank.bsky.social · 28d

🇸🇾 🎉Thank you to all who joined us in Parliament for our roundtable on Syria’s transition nine months on.

Our expert panel reflected on interim governance, legal reform & the prospects for meaningful accountability.

📝 A takeaway report will be out soon: fpc.org.uk/join/

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