British Secularists' National Debate: "Islam in a Secular Europe"

11 August 2011

The UK's leading annual secularist assembly this year will focus exclusively on scrutinizing Islam and Europe's Muslims.

"Islam in a Secular Europe" is the theme of the 2011 Secular Europe Campaign debate, hosted on 16 September by the British Humanist Association (BHA) and the Central London Humanists, in association with Conway Hall.

Using a "Question Time" format, this debate comes one year on from the Pope's state visit to the UK, which prompted the largest ever secularist protests against the policies of the Vatican, and demonstrated the strength that secularists wield in the UK.

This year’s event purports to bring together some of the country's leading secularist thinkers and activists to debate and discuss topics including: whether there is a clash of cultures between European values and Islamic ones; whether religious freedom of Muslims in Europe depends on secularism; if veil and burkha bans are secularist or counter-secularist; what the relationship should be between sharia rules and secular law; and if secularism can admit any limitations on freedom of expression in religious matters.

Panellists include:

Yahya Birt, the Commissioning Editor at Kube Publishing and co-editor of British Secularism and Religion: Islam, Society and the State

Sir David Blatherwick, diplomat, writer, distinguished supporter of Humanism, and current Trustee for the British University in Egypt

Humeira Iqtida, lecturer at King's College London and author of Secularising Islamists? Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamaat-ud-Dawa in Pakistan

Maleiha Malik, Professor in Law at King's College London teacher of courses in Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, Discrimination Law and European Law;

Maryam Namazie, well-known critic of political Islam and commentator on women's rights, violence against women, cultural relativism, secularism, Humanism, religion, and Islam.

BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented, "Secularism is a way of protecting people of all different religions and those with none. It is vital that public debate and enquiry into secular issues includes people from all backgrounds, and to question how, in a continent that gave rise to liberal democracy and the values of human rights, we can ensure that no one is discriminated against on the basis of religion. Being able to put questions to this expert panel is a tremendous opportunity for the public to explore the effect secularism has on a multicultural society, and will contribute to ensuring that public policy is informed by open public debate."

Sources:

"Islam in a secular Europe" Cision Wire August 10, 2011

"Islam in a Secular Europe" British Humanist Association August 10, 2011

The New Strasbourg Grand Mosque Hopes to Open for Ramadan

 The Grand Mosque of Strasbourg is expected to welcome its first Ramadan, which begins 1 August.

The building, whose main prayer room can accept 1,500 worshippers, has yet to obtain approval from the prefectural security committee, whose official visit will take place on the same day.

Agreements are being sought with the Strasbourg municipality to allow the mosque to open for worshipers throughout the month and then close thereafter until construction is complete.

Aalla Said, the mosque's president said: "A preliminary visit of the technical committee went well. We have some details to work out. But in terms of safety, we are up to par. "

"We are confident. The mosque is ready. It only needs the interior, " the mosque's real estate manager, Fouad Douai, said on Wednesday.

The interior of the mosque will be conducted in zellige, a glazed terracotta by Moroccan craftsmen by the end of the year. The inauguration is scheduled for November.

Though there are many mosques in Strasbourg, the Grand Mosque will be the first purpose-built mosque in the entirety of France's Alsace region. Other mosques are converted buildings, the largest of which is the Eyyub Sultan, a former industrial building that still claims to offer the largest prayer hall in Strasbourg, with a capacity for 1750 worshippers.

Approval for the construction of the new mosque was given way back in 1999 by the socialist municipality, but its size was called into questioned by the UMP, which came to power in 2001. The mosque effort was relaunched in 2008 with the return of Socialist Roland Ries. The project has struggled to complete the mosque on a budget of 8.7 million euros.

Local, city, regionional governments will ultimately provide 26% of the amount under the bankruptcy law in force in Alsace and Moselle, with the balance divided between the Strasbourg Muslim community on the one hand, and Morocco, the Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on the other.

The Grand Mosque of Strasbourg, which has a copper dome rising 24 meters, will not have a minaret, at least initially. While the right was vetoed, Roland Ries said there be no objection.

"It's a sign of openness, but we are in no hurry," said Fouad Douai about this architectural element that was planned in the initial project to reach 28 meters .

The Grand Mosque will conduct services in French and Arabic, and hopes to attract much of the Muslim community in the city of Strasbourg, which is estimated to be around 50,000 people, about 10% of the population.

Sources:

"La Grande mosquée de Strasbourg espère ouvrir pour le ramadan" AFP July 27, 2011

"La Grande Mosquée de Strasbourg fête son premier Ramadan" Mosquée de Strasbourg July 27, 2011

"Ramadan 2011 : la grande mosquée de Strasbourg juste à temps"

"Phillipe Wendling, "LE RAMADAN FÊTÉ À LA GRANDE MOSQUÉE" Grand Strasbourg July 12, 2011