Professor Tariq Ramadan will speak at LSE SU Islamic Society :

LSE SU Islamic Society presents : "Faith in Politics"

An evening with Professor Tariq Ramadan

Tuesday 23rd October 2012

Venue : New Theatre (E171), East Building, London School of Economics

Programme : 6.30 – 6.45 Introduction 6.45 – 8.00 Main Speech- Faith in Politics 8.00 – 8.30 Professor Ramadan Q&A Close

" Increasingly, issues surrounding religion, faith and identity are spilling out into the political arena and causing a cementing of views on either side of the political spectrum. The recent backlash in parts of the Muslim world after the Innocence of Muslims film brings this polarisation into stark reality. Can the secular language of Western European democracies find a place for religion in a way that can facilitate the benefit religion can bring to society to the fore ? Or is religion destined to always be seen as, at best a personal issue not to impinge on public life, and at worst the exclusive domain of the irrational in society. Further, can the politics of identity allow for the recognition of religious sensibilities in a way that does not run counter to the rights to expression and free speech. Do the recent trends among the centre right governments across Europe away from multiculturalism then provide a dangerous backdrop within which islamaphobia is allowed to flourish with the tacit approval of those that claim to be upholders of free speech ? Finally, what can European/British Muslims, who are bright, articulated and driven do to combat such trends. How should, and why should young politically aware Muslims not despair in what often they see as a constant narrative that they are not accepted in wider society ? And if Muslims are to enter the political arena- how can they stay true to their faith in what is now quite a godless arena.- and what inspiration can the gain from the life of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) in being politically aware and dealing in politics."