New Horizon cafeDr Hashim Rashid has lived in Exeter for over thirty years and owns the New Horizon café on Longbrook Street, with Mustafa Tellesy.

Originally from Jerusalem, Dr. Rashid arrived in Exeter in 1982 to do his Masters at the University of Exeter. He went on to complete a PhD in International Relations, graduating from the University of Exeter in 1990. After working in London for several years, Dr. Rashid returned to Exeter and the idea came to him of opening a café in Exeter which would offer a ‘new horizon’ in food for the city serving authentic Arabic and Mediterranean cuisine.

Nazima Khan and Richard Bradbury interviewed Hashim Rashid at the New Horizon in February 2013. Click on the play arrows on the extracts below. Read the full transcript.

In this interview Dr Rashid shares with us his personal reflections on education and integration, culture and politics in Britain and the Middle East, highlighting the importance of tolerance and understanding for us all.

Extract 1

Hashim talks about his children in Exeter schools – St Sidwells school and Montgomery school.

Extract 2

Story about his youngest son and daughter in assembly at St Sidwells in the 90s (Muslim children in a Christian school).

Extract 3

Story about his daughter at High school during Ramadan.

Extract 4

Talking about his sons, who captained Devon in rugby and football, moving on to talk about the difference between integration and assimilation.

Extract 5

Politics: the history of Palestine, the Balfour declaration, current politics in the Middle East and the plight of the Palestinians.

Extract 6

Message to minorities living in Exeter.