A symposium on “Overcoming Prejudices: Islam and the West, A Tale of Two Conflicting Cultures and Experiences”, hosted recently by the Gulf Studies Centre (GSC) at Qatar University College of Arts and Sciences (QU-CAS), drew a number of distinguished researchers and international specialists from around the world to share ideas and observations on the current relationship between the two cultures.
The two-day forum of sessions and workshops was held in collaboration with the Regional Office Gulf Studies of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), a Berlin-based political foundation and think tank.
Participants explored the growing situation of distrust and miscommunication between East and West, interpretation of the limits to freedom of expression, the increased rise of radicalism throughout the Middle East as well as the motivations behind Europe’s right-wing movements, among other issues.
The symposium was part of a series of collaborations carried out by GSC in co-operation with international research institutes to tackle critical socio-political and economic issues in the region.
Attending were CAS members, including dean Dr Eiman Mustafawi, associate dean of academic affairs Dr Hassan Abdel Aziz, GSC director Dr Abdullah Baabood and KAS regional representative to Gulf states Dr Gidon Windecker.
Participants included research co-ordinator and assistant professor of Gulf politics Dr Luciano Zaccara, associate professor in the Department of Mass Communication Dr Nourredine Miladi and research professor and co-ordinator of social science at the Centre for Humanities and Social Sciences Dr Daniel Varisco (all QU-CAS); associate professor of history Dr Mohamed Reza Pirbhai (Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar); associate professor of journalism Dr Ibrahim Abusharif (Northwestern University in Qatar); German journalist, media specialist and strategic adviser Christoph Lanz; non-resident fellow Dr Amel Boubekeur (German Institute for International and Security Affairs); director Esra Kücük (Young Islam Conference, Germany); project management assistant Mersiha Hadžiabdic (JUMA, Germany); director for political consulting Nico Lange (KAS); professor of political science Dr Abdullah al-Shayji (Kuwait University); assistant professor of world studies Dr Aliakbar Alikani (University of Tehran); and senior researcher Dr François Burgat (CNRS IRENAM, France).
CAS faculty from GSC and the Centre for Humanities and Social Sciences along with students from the Gulf Studies Programme and International Affairs Department also
participated.
Keynote speakers were Hamad bin Khalifa University dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies Prof Dr Aisha Yousef al-Mannai and German social scientist, author and commentator on political, social and religious affairs Dr Necla Kelek.
Opening the symposium, Dr Zaccara said the topic requires a profound academic debate in order to overcome misunderstandings, distrust and prejudices and to bridge the existing gap between Islam and the West.
Dr Windecker noted that fostering dialogue and understanding between Europe and the Gulf is the core of KAS’s work.
Dr al-Mannai said, “Islam is a religion of peace, not of war. Therefore, we should avoid the word ‘conflict’ whenever we talk about Islam-West relations. There might be differences between the two cultures but there is no clash of
civilisations.”
Dr Mustafawi said, “The conference aims at defeating the stereotypes surrounding relations between Islam and the West that focus on conflicts and also on clarifying the integration and equality between Islam and western culture.”
Dr Baabood said the event was an opportunity for exchange and dialogue regarding pressing issues and regional events.
