Forum on the Future of Islam – Is Islamism(s) Prone to Produce Extremism?


Date posted: February 11, 2016

Rethink Institute has launched a new research program, Future of Islam, to debate and address the most critical questions, share ideas, and offer solutions to salient issues related to the future of Islam and Muslims. Forum on the Future of Islam has been established as the deliberative component of the program whereby prominent experts and leaders meet annually to discuss and deliberate specific themes. The first meeting of the Forum under the theme “Muslim Perspectives on Islamic Extremism”took place in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2015.

Since the end of the Cold War, unfortunately, Islam has become one of the top global concerns. Political, social, and sectarian fault lines in Muslim geographies continue to produce conflict and violence, affecting not only domestic but also regional and global power dynamics. In addition, in an age of fast, cursory, unfiltered information and a continuous news cycle, any misdeed committed by any Muslim anywhere, at any time, with any motive, is haphazardly attributed to Islam. It may not be far-fetched to argue that the future of Islam is also the future of Muslims. And given the magnitude of the issues surrounding this people and religion, the future of Islam will also determine the future of humanity at large.

The first meeting of the Forum considered:

  • The challenge of extremism and radicalism in Muslim communities around the world;
  • The failure of Islamism to address social, political, and economic issues;
  • Identity crises and the social predicament of Muslim minorities in Western societies;
  • Radicalization of Muslim youths;
  • The conflict between modern values and institutions and the tenets of Islam as conceived by some Muslims and non-Muslims;
  • Conflicts among state, civil, Sufi, and political manifestations of Islam;
  • Coexistence of Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

Forum speakers included:

Asma Afsaruddin, Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, Azizah al-Hibri, Mehdi Aminrazavi, Abdul Karim Bangura, Birol Baskan, Fevzi Bilgin, Mustafa Gurbuz, Shireen T. Hunter, Arsalan Iftikhar, Margaret A. Johnson, Ozgur Koca, Ahmet T. Kuru, Nadia Oweidat, Leila Piran, Zeki Saritoprak, Asma T. Uddin

Source: Rethink Institute , Jan 22, 2016

Tags: | | |


Related News

[Erdogan’s] Turken Foundation: A Wolf in the Neighborhood [in the US]

Members of the Saudi royal family are known financiers of madrassas, informal education centers around the world that propagate Wahhabiism, an extremist interpretation of Islam. Will the [pro-Erdogan] New York dormitory function as a madrassa?

Turkish Human Rights Violations Put Under Microscope

The annual dinner celebrates and strengthens civic ties within the Turkish diaspora and with the United States; last night was no different save the sobering theme of the proceedings: Turkish human rights violations.

First Lego League qualifier at Brooklyn Amity School

Brooklyn Amity School became a site where students dealt with all kinds of animals, including alligators, frogs, reindeer, sharks, cows, pandas, bees, and seals. As a host of the First Lego League qualifier competition, 11 different schools came to Amity School. This year, the FLL’s concept was “Animal Allies,” which allowed students to think and act like scientists and engineers.

Kurdish Issue Discussed in New York

‘Kurdish Issue’, one of the most controversial agenda items recently, was discussed at a panel attended by academics and journalists in New York. Among the keynote speakers of the event were Mucait Bilici from John Jay College and the journalist-author Mustafa Akyol. Mustafa Akyol as the first speaker of the series recalled that it was […]

Erdoğan calls on US to extradite Gülen in return for jailed US pastor in Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called on the US to extradite Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen in return for releasing American pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been jailed in Turkey since October 2016.

U.S.-based Turkish cleric says used as scapegoat in graft scandal

REUTERS U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen has denied giving orders to police and prosecutors in a corruption inquiry rocking the government, saying his worldwide movement of followers was being used as a scapegoat to divert attention. In his first TV interview in 16 years, the influential preacher told the BBC that Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan […]

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Erdoğan draws ire from all segments of society over bid to close Turkish schools

Defending Hizmet

It is a great loss that Turkish Olympiads were not held in Turkey

An Ideal, Dynamic, Democratic Education

Teachers detained on coup charges while casting votes in referendum

Opposition deputy: Police detain one more woman shortly after delivery

“Like a Storm”: Deportations Stun Turks in Kosovo

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News