Section on Islamic LawSan Diego Salon C, North Tower/Lobby Level, San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina
Muslims and Secularism: A Conversation about the Future of Islamic Law, Pluralism, Democracy, and Liberal States
Islamic law and Muslims are at the center of contemporary debates over just how far liberal democratic states must accommodate pluralism. France bans the headscarf in public schools. So does Turkey, despite the recent legislative attempts to overturn the ban in universities. And the litigation surrounding this issue is at the center of intense debates over the nature of Turkey’s secularism. In Canada, a proposal for Shari’a mediation tribunals generated intense public debate, repeated again in the United Kingdom following the Archbishop of Canterbury’s assertion that the accommodation of Shari’a is unavoidable. What does all this tell us about the relationship of Islamic law and secularism? Is the answer in Muslim-majority countries different from the answer in countries where Muslims are living as a minority? Our panel will discuss the meaning of secularism in these various contexts, with special attention to its impact and interaction with Islamic law. Tariq Ramadan will participate by video because he has been denied entry to the United States.
Business Meeting at Program conclusion.
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