17 – 18 March 2014 – Hotel Legacy Ottoman – Istanbul
Values and Institutions of a Free Society in mainly Muslim Countries
Program
16 March 2014, Sunday
17.00 – 19.00 Registration
19.00 – 19.45 Opening Dinner
19.45 – 20.30 Keynote speech: Syed Kamall, Member of the European Parliament (Video)
17 March 2014, Monday
08.30 – 09.30 Registration
09.30 – 10.00 Opening remarks
Özlem Çağlar Yılmaz, Association for Liberal Thinking
Dr. Azhar Aslam, Chairman of Istanbul Network for Liberty
Linda Whetstone, Chairman of Network for a Free Society
10.00 – 11.00 I. Session
Reason and Tradition in the Muslim World
Chair: Dr. Mohammad Ahrar Ramizpoor, Afghan Economic and Legal Studies Org.
Speakers:
- Prof. Dr. Mustafa Acar, Aksaray University, Turkey: “Ahl Al-Rey vs. Ahl Al-Hadith: Destructive Consequences of The Conflict Between Rationalist and Traditionist Schools in The Muslim World”
– Dr. Raza Ullah, Alternate Solutions Institute, Pakistan: “Rationalism and Extremism in Muslim Societies”
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee Break
11.30 – 13.00 II. Session
Islam, Individual and the State
Chair: Thomas Cumhur Gür, Senior Advisor to Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation
Speakers:
– Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan Yucel Basdemir, Hitit University Divinity Faculty, Turkey: “Why a Particular Political Idea Didn’t Emerge in Islamic History”
– Dženan Smajić, Center for Advance Studies, Bosnia: “State and Community in Islam: Rights, Responsibilities and Obligations vis a vis individuals”
– Prof. Dr. Bilal Sambur, Yildirim Beyazit University, Turkey: “Islam as an individual religion”
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 15.30 III. Session
Situation of Women in Muslim Countries
Chair: Prof. Dr. Ömer Çaha, Yildiz Technical University Department of Political Science
Speakers:
- Dr. Hidayet Tuksal, Mardin Artuklu University Faculty of Theology, Founding Member of Capital City Women’s Platform
– Amira El Kady, Journalist, Nile News, Cairo: Women in Islamic Countries
– Souad Adnane, Arab Center for Scientific Research and Humane Studies, Morocco: Women’s position in Morocco
15.30 – 16.00 Coffee Break
16.00 – 17.00 IV. Session
Religion, Islam and Capitalism
Chair: Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs; Malaysia
Speakers:
- Volkan Ertit, Aksaray Uni, Phd Student İn Rodbaud University: “Capitalism, A Fervent Accelerator of Secularization”
– Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad , Minaret of Freedom Institute: “Capitalism and Imperialism”
18.00 – 20.00 Dinner
18 March 2014, Tuesday
09.30 – 11.00 V. Session
Poverty, Welfare, Social Justice and Public Goods in Muslim Societies
Chair: Dr. Nouh El Harmouzi, Ibn Toufail University, Morocco, Minbaralhurriya.org
Speakers:
– Benedikt Koehler, UK: “Private Sector Provision of Welfare – The Waqf – in Early Islam”
– Edo Omerčević, Center for Advancement for Free Enterprise, Bosnia: “Islam in Bosnia: An Empirical Analysis of Muslims’ Desire for Government Control”
– Dr. Peter Mentzel, Liberty Fund: “Protectionists and Free-Traders in the Late Ottoman Empire”
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee Break
11.30 – 13.00 VI. Session
Politics, Reform and Uprising in the Muslim World
Chair: Prof. Dr. Ahmet Uysal, Marmara University, Middle Eastern Studies Center, Coordinator of Arab Turkish Congress of Social Sciences
Speakers:
– Asst. Prof. Dr. Murat Aktas, Mus Alpaslan University, Turkey: “The Arab Uprisings and Democracy”
– Zineb Benella, Morocco: “Challenges to Liberal Reform in The Arab Spring”
– Prof. Dr. Bekir Berat Özipek, İstanbul Commerce University
13.00 – 14.30 Lunch
Keynote speech: Mustafa Akyol, Columnist and Author of the book Islam Without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty
14.30 – 16.00 VII. Session
Free Market Economy and Liberal Democracy in the Muslim World
Chair: Ali Salman, Policy Research Institute of Market Economy, Pakistan
Speakers:
– Dr. Hicham El Moussaoui, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Moroco: “Why Market Economy is Weak in Islamic World ?”
– Dalibor Rohac, Cato Institute: “Understanding the Economics of Political Islam”
– Dr. Akrem M. Aswed, University of Duhok, Kurdistan: “Liberal Democracy and Economic Development in Islamic World”
16.00 – 16.30 Coffee Break
16.30 – 18.00 VIII. Session
Workshop on Practical Issues for Liberal Democracy in the Muslim World
Moderators: Dr. Imad ad Dean Ahmad – Prof. Dr. Atilla Yayla
The Arab spring has demonstrated that a desire to eliminate a particular authoritrarian leader is insufficient to assure a transition to a liberal democracy, even when liberal Islamic activists are involved. All participants will be encouraged to identify and discuss the practical impediments to applying the deas of this conference in their respective countries and to share ideas for overcoming those impediments. The discussion is open ended. Among the ideas appropriate for the discussion are the roles of independent civil society institutions, Islamic study circles, new media, reconciliation programs, and peaceful resistance.
18.00 Closing
18.30 – 19.30 Dinner