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Changeable and Unchangeable in Islamic Thought and Practice
International Workshop and Public Forum at ISAM, Istanbul, january 25.28 2007
Background:
In 2002 The Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or belief established the project New Directions in Islamic Thought and Practice: Exploring Issues of Equality and Plurality. Several steps have already been taken by an international committee of experts, meeting in Oslo in 2002 and in London in 2003 to develop the project and prepare a Platform Statement (see main page on website). It was decided to hold several international workshops and to disseminate the results. The first step of this strategy was realized in June 2004, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, with the holding of an International Workshop and Public Forum on Equality and Plurality in cooperation with State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Kalijaga. The second step in this strategy was realized from May 7-9 in 2005. The workshop and public forum was arranged in Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina in cooperation with the Faculty of Islamic Studies in Sarajevo.
The workshop in Istanbul constituted the third and final step of this process. On the basis of these conferences the Oslo Coalition planned to use the distinguished participants’ experience and knowledge to create a new forum for discussion, and disseminate of the results produced so far on the theme New Directions in Islamic Thought and Practice in the form of a publication.
The workshop itself lasted for two days. The workshop program was structured under the following headings: Ethics and New trends in Turkish Islamic Thought. A number of international and Turkish distinguished experts presented and exchanged reflections in their respective fields. On the third day a public forum was held, open to over 100 professors, students, muftis, chief imams and other interested persons.
Click here for the programme of the workshop
Click here for abstracts of the presentations
The book "Changeable and Unchangeable in Islamic Thought and Practice", resulting from the above series of international workshops, will be published in the autumn of 2007.
At the seminar in Istanbul, an international group of experts were chosen to carry out a series of workshops, to be held over a period of two years, which will result in “Guidelines for Islamic Family Law” that can serve as a curriculum, reference, and resource. The first of these workshops will take place in Marrakesh in November 2007.
Click here for the description of the project “Guidelines for Islamic Family Law”
