Islam and Global Affairs Simulation Day III

Islam and Global Affairs Simulation Day III

3.35-3:50: Media Reports

Each media outlet will take no more than 4-5 minutes each to report on the conferences in Iraq, Afghanistan and the USA.

Participants: CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera.

3:50 - 4:20 US Presidential Debates

This is an integrated Presidential primary and national election debate simulation. Each Presidential candidate will make a 2-3 minute opening statement on his/her foreign policy on the subject of democracy promotion in the Middle East and political Islam. They will then answer questions from the house.

4:20 - 4:45 Debriefing Session

Islam and Global Affairs: Simulation Day II

3.40 - 3: 55: The Media reports on the conference of scholars on the compatibility of Islam and Democracy.

Participants: BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera

3:55 – 4:40: V. President Cheney hosts a conference to discuss the viability and the pros and cons for the US and the region if the US were to make democracy promotion the primary goal of US foreign policy in the Middle East.

Participants: C. Rice, D. Cheney, Irving Kristol, and R. Guiliani, T. Ramadan, M. Khan, O. Bakar, A. Tamimi, J. Esposito, B. Lewis, N. Feldman, R. Guiliani, H. Clinton, M. Romney, B. Obama [Chair: Cheney]

3:55 – 4:40: The Iraq group meets discuss the limits and problems in the Iraq constitution which seeks to give equal credence to both Islam and democracy. If the two are compatible there should be no problem but if there are irreconcilable differences then the constitution will lead to legal and political chaos.

The group shall determine if (a) the constitution is fine as is, or (b) it needs to be amended with the following amendments ----------------- and (c) it needs to completely scrapped and rewritten from scratch.

Participants: A. Sistani, Iyad Alawi, Iraqi Arab Bathist, Sheikh Baha al-Din, Muqtada Sadr, President Iraqi National Association of Women, Syed Qutb, Mohsen Abdul Hamid, Ayatollah Khomeini, and President Iraqi National Association of Minorities. [Chair: A. Sistani].

3:55 – 4:40: The Afghanistan group group meets discuss the limits and problems in the Iraq constitution which seeks to give equal credence to both Islam and democracy. If the two are compatible there should be no problem but if there are irreconcilable differences then the constitution will lead to legal and political chaos.

The group shall determine if (a) the constitution is fine as is, or (b) it needs to be amended with the following amendments ----------------- and (c) it needs to completely scrapped and rewritten from scratch.

Participants: Hamid Karzai, Pro-Taliban, President Afghan National Association of Hinds and Sikhs, President Afghan National Association of women, Maulana Maududi, Al-Nabhani, Abdul Wahhab, and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. [Chair: Hamid Karzai].

Syed Qutb and M. Maududi

Please read this article on Syed Qutb and then comment on it and the two essays that you read by Maududi and Qutb.

Politics of Veiling

In countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran women, all women, Muslim and non-Muslim women cannot step outdoors without covering. It is mandated by law. As it was under the Taliban in Afghanistan. These societies are described and criticized as "Islamic fundamentalist." Where as France and Turkey have banned hijab from public [government] spaces and schools. Is this a form of secular fundamentalism or enlightenment?

What are your reflections on the politics of Hijab? Here is my take on it.

Review of The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf

Please post your book review of The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf here. This is not a typical Bog entry. Please compose it in a word processor and then cut and paste here. Your review should be about 2 pages long. The author also writes a rather funny column on Sex and the Umma you are welcome to sample it.

Islam in the West

The presence of Islam in the West has now become an issue as significant as the Islam and the West issue. Here is a Chapter on Islam in America and a recent PEW survey on American Muslims. In the past few years I have had the opportunity to travel and meet with Muslims in Oxford, Britain, Germany, Belgium and other European countries. You can read my reflections by clicking on the names of the places.

Here is an excellent source to study Islam in Europe and this one is good for Islam in America. These are comprehensive sources do spend some time reviewing them.

Muslim While Flying

Watch this video blog and respond. You can read about the blogger here.

Have you tried dating a Muslim?

Intercultural dating is a major issue for young Muslims growing up in the West - actually everywhere. To read a conservative position on dating click here. For an interesting discussion on Muslims and dating click here.Watch this rather funny and a bit sad episode of The Little Mosque on the Praire for a sensitive presentation of the issue. The episode is divided in three parts locate the second and third after you finish watching the first part of the episode.

Clash of Civilizations?

The Clash of Civilizations' thesis was presented by Sam Hunting. Click to read. Do you agree? Here is what Professor John Voll says. Post your comments to both in the context of Richard Bulliets' Islamo-Christian Civilization.