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

How to Interview Fethullah Gulen

Turkey is in the spotlight (again) with TIME magazine’s choices for its 2013 list of the 100 most influential peoplein the world. Turkish spiritual leader Fethullah Gulen and the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) Abdullah Öcalan were both listed under the leaders section. Öcalan and Gulen are two enigmas. One lives in self-imposed […]

Former US envoys to Ankara say Erdoğan doing great harm to democracy

“Whatever his achievements over the past decade, Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is destroying his country’s parlous democracy. That is a profound problem for Turks and Turkey’s Western allies. Staying silent, out of fear that speaking out would harm some short-term interests, risks Turkey’s longer-term stability.”

Political thunder from Turkey rumbles all the way to New Orleans

And how appalling that they should now be exposed to the atrocious anti-Muslim diatribes of a U.S. presidential candidate not all that different from Erdogan in his threats and his bigotry.

Turkish community in Springfield area to host Turkish bazaar, conference

The first event is a Turkish Bazaar, which will take place at the Turkish Cultural Center of Western Massachusetts, 540 Meadow Street Extension, Agawam. All profits from this event will be distributed to the “Raise an Orphan” in Haiti charity in conjunction with Embrace Relief, non-profit organization that brings together teams of volunteers to collaborate on humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts.

Turkish schools in US select Olympiad finalists

Many countries that are home to Turkish schools have been holding language and culture festivals this month to select the students who will compete in the 12th Turkish Olympiads in June, with one such event recently being held in the US state of Virginia.

International Workshop – Hizmet Movement between Political Islam and Civil Islam

Hizmet-inspired European organizations are organizing an international conference to be held in November 2017 in Amsterdam. The workshop will examine the Hizmet Movement in the realm of political Islam and civil Islam.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Turks most honest donors to Somalia, says minister

Erdoğan’s Crackdown Takes A Toll On Exchange Students In Turkey

Doctors Worldwide Turkey, Kimse Yok Mu set to help Gazans

Foreign Policy Magazine Interviewed Fethullah Gulen

Gülen Movement’s role on London conference agenda

Turkish ruling party’s targeting of the Gülen movement constitutes a crime against humanity

Today’s Zaman celebrates 6th anniversary with columnists, editors

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News