London – 24 January 2006. The Chancery regrets to announce the death of His Excellency Sheikh Zaki Badawi a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I, within the Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland. Sheikh Zaki was decreed into the Royal Order in 2005.
Sheikh Zaki, who was decreed a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I in 2005, was one of the principal driving forces behind the inter-religious activities of the Constantinian Order and the Royal Order of Francis I in Britain and Ireland as well as across the Arab and Muslim world. Sheikh Zaki, who was awarded an honorary knighthood in 2004 by HM The Queen, was Principal of the Muslim College of Great Britain and Co-Founder of the Three Faith Forum which he created together with longstanding Delegation member, Sir Sigmund Sternberg.
Sheikh Zaki attended many of the events of the Delegation and also spoke at our 2003 Annual Dinner held in the presence of the Delegation’s prior, His Eminence Cormac, Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster.
British and Irish Delegate Anthony Bailey said “Zaki’s passing has come as a great shock to me personally and undoubtedly to the many in our dynastic orders who worked with him on developing our Order’s interfaith projects at home and abroad. He was a true giant among men and represented the very best of not only his Muslim faith but also of the Christian and Jewish faiths. Zaki is truly irreplaceable and the country and the world has lost, and will greatly mourn, a great man devoted to peace and harmony among God’s people”.
Requiescat in pace.