17
January 2014
Past Event
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation: Free Speech Implications of a Proposed Ban on "Islamophobia"

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation: Free Speech Implications of a Proposed Ban on "Islamophobia"

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
January 17, 2014
Default Event Image
17
January 2014
Past Event

1015 15th Street, N.W., 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

Speakers:
Nina Shea
Nina Shea

Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Religious Freedom

Dr. Mark Durie

Fellow, Australian Academy of the Humanities

"Islamophobia" is a widely used yet vague and controversial term referring to anti-Muslim bigotry. In recent years, identifying, monitoring, reporting on, and working to ban Islamophobia worldwide has been a major focus of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The OIC is an international body of 56 member states that is based in Saudi Arabia and active within the United Nations. While the United States has formally recognized its work in the past--US ambassadors have observed its sessions and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton co-chaired some of its meetings--American awareness of the organization remains scant.

In 2007, the OIC began issuing regular "observatory" reports on Islamophobia, and since 2009 has published monthly bulletins that cite primarily Western examples of Islamophobia.

Is Islamophobia a serious problem, or is the term itself an ideological cudgel designed to incite fear and criminalize dissent? On January 17, 2014, Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom welcomed Dr. Mark Durie for a discussion of these and other basic questions related to the OIC's efforts to ban Islamophobia.

Mark Durie is an Anglican pastor, theologian, author, and human rights activist. He is a fellow of the Australian Academy for the Humanities, a Shillman-Ginsburg Fellow at the Middle East Forum, a Research Fellow at Melbourne School of Theology's Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths, and Director of the Institute for Spiritual Awareness.

Related Events
04
September 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Freeing China’s Political Prisoners
Featured Speakers:
Sarah Makin
Corey Jackson
Frances Hui
Jewher Ilham
Moderator:
Olivia Enos
Getty Images
04
September 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Freeing China’s Political Prisoners

Join Hudson for a discussion on the situation of political prisoners across China, what the US can do to advance their cause, and potential reforms to Washington’s political prisoner advocacy framework.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Sarah Makin
Corey Jackson
Frances Hui
Jewher Ilham
Moderator:
Olivia Enos
04
September 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Digital Front Line: Building a Cyber-Resilient Taiwan
Featured Speakers:
Jason Hsu
Congressman Rob Wittman
Admiral (Ret.) Legislator Richard YK Chen
Dr. Anshu Roy
Joseph Saunders
taiwan flag cyber
04
September 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Digital Front Line: Building a Cyber-Resilient Taiwan

Join Hudson Senior Fellow Jason Hsu for a discussion with Congressman Rob Wittman on the role of cyber resilience in the defense of Taiwan.

taiwan flag cyber
Featured Speakers:
Jason Hsu
Congressman Rob Wittman
Admiral (Ret.) Legislator Richard YK Chen
Dr. Anshu Roy
Joseph Saunders
09
September 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Southeast Europe’s Growing Role in European Energy Security
Featured Speakers:
Zhecho Stankov
Dr. Robert D. Atkinson
Marius Koeppen
Ruslan Stefanov
Moderator:
Matthew Boyse
Getty Images
09
September 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Southeast Europe’s Growing Role in European Energy Security

Join Hudson Senior Fellow Matt Boyse for an event with Bulgarian Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation President Dr. Robert D. Atkinson, and Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) Energy and Climate Program Analyst Marius Koeppen. 

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Zhecho Stankov
Dr. Robert D. Atkinson
Marius Koeppen
Ruslan Stefanov
Moderator:
Matthew Boyse
04
November 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Bad Money: How America Can Solve Perpetual Inflation
Featured Speakers:
Brendan Brown
Alex J. Pollock
Moderator:
Harold Furchtgott-Roth
Getty Images
04
November 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Bad Money: How America Can Solve Perpetual Inflation

At Hudson, Senior Fellows Brendan Brown and Harold Furchtgott-Roth and Mises Institute Senior Fellow Alex Pollock will discuss the book’s findings and how gold-based monetary reform combined with the increased use of modern analytical tools can help end the inflationary spiral.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Brendan Brown
Alex J. Pollock
Moderator:
Harold Furchtgott-Roth