by Oisín Collins

The NUI, Galway Literary & Debating Society will be hosting a panel discussion with the title - “Changing Times – Islam in the 21st Century” in the Kirwan Lecture Theatre at 7pm on Thursday October 15th.

In recent years, Europe has borne witness to attacks on embassies over cartoons of the prophet Mohammed and riots in France over the ban on wearing the hijab, all over faith and cultural differences. Nations and governments argue over what is the best way to approach the influx of many differing cultural viewpoints into a single society, with some embracing the new beliefs of their people and others being less accommodating. All the while rules in Islamic countries are as strict as ever and it appears that there is a significant double standard.

The Lit & Deb seeks to explore this, one of the most troubling questions for our generation by bringing together a panel of experts in the field of Muslim culture and integration in a Questions & Answers style evening, to speak about a variety of issues. Areas that will be covered include the challenges and obstacles faced by Muslims when immigrating to European countries, the differences in the treatment of particular social groups in the West and East and what the future may hold for followers of the Muslim faith in our society.

Guest of honour at this event will be Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss Muslim scholar who has published numerous papers on the subject of Muslim integration into Western Society. Widely respected and recognised as an expert, Mr Ramadan has a broad appeal outside the world of academia and has even been referred to as the Muslim Martin Luther. He is regarded as one of the world’s top intellectuals. Other noteable guests at the event include Rajnaara Akhtar, a stalwart campaigner against the ban on the hijab and Dr. Kathleen Cavanaugh, chairperson of the Amnesty International Ireland Executive Committee. Representatives from the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland and MPACIE, an Irish Muslim lobby group, will also be speaking. The moderator for the event is Denis Halliday, former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq from September 1st 1997 until 1998.

It is set to be an enlightening and engaging event for all concerned.