On 1-2 April 2011, the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Middle East and the American University of Beirut (AUB) organized a Symposium that shed light on the phenomenon of Islamophobia in the West and the responses of communities across the Muslim world. The debate concentrated on questions of freedom of expression, racism, integration policies, democratic values, critical self-reflection and humor.
With speakers from Bahrain, England, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Palestine, Pakistan, Sudan, South Africa and the US.
1 April 2011, 09:30-15:30
2 April 2011, 10:00-16:30
AUB, College Hall, Auditorium B1
Language: English and Arabic (simultaneous translation)
Public Lecture and Debate
Tariq Ramadan: The Clash of Perceptions - Which Role for Islam in the Era of Arab Revolutions?
As part of the symposium, Tariq Ramadan held a public lecture and debate on the role of Islam in the era of Arab revolutions.
1 April 2011, Issam Fares Hall, AUB
Reception: 19:00
Lecture and Debate: 20:00
Language: English with simultaneous translation into Arabic
About Tariq Ramadan
Tariq Ramadan, grandson of Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan Al-Banna, has been named by Time Magazine as one of the 21st century's most innovative thinkers. He is Professor of Islamic Studies at the Oxford University and President of the European Muslim Network in Brussels. Prof. Ramadan received his PhD from the University of Geneva and training in classic Islamic scholarship from Al-Azhar University scholars in Cairo.
Through his writings and lectures, Prof. Ramadan has contributed to the vision of a "European Islam" and to the debate on Islamic renewal and Islamic revival in the world. Due to his political views, he was temporarily banned from visiting the US and Egypt. His latest books are "The Quest for Meaning: Developing a Philosophy of Pluralism" (2010) and "What I believe" (2009).