19
January 2011
Past Event
The Organization of the Islamic Conference: Fatwas on Freedom and Democracy

The Organization of the Islamic Conference: Fatwas on Freedom and Democracy

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
January 19, 2011
Default Event Image
19
January 2011
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

Vicar, St. Mary's Anglican Church in Caulfield, Victoria, Australia

The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), through its Saudi-based Islamic Fiqh Academy (IFA), seeks to bring Islamic jurisprudence to bear on key matters affecting modern life and international law. Since the 1980s, IFA has been offering guidance to Muslims worldwide. IFA's goal is to unify Muslims, and restore the cultural authority of the global Muslim community. Because it consults widely with the most eminent religious scholars, and its contributing members are themselves internationally recognized as eminent jurists, IFA's pronouncements represent the closest thing that exists to an authoritative religious consensus from the Muslim world. They also enjoy the political backing of the OIC.

Dr. Mark Durie discussed recent IFA fatwas on religious freedom, freedom of speech, and the question of whether and under what conditions Muslims are permitted by religious principles to participate as free citizens of non-Islamic, democratic states. He discussed the implications of these fatwas for religious freedom in the world today, for Muslims' ability to participate freely in secular societies, and for the reformation of Islam.

Durie is a theologian, human rights activist, and pastor of an Anglican church. He has published many articles and books on the language and culture of the Acehnese, Christian-Muslim relations, and religious freedom. A graduate of the Australian National University and the Australian College of Theology, he has held visiting appointments at the University of Leiden, MIT, UCLA, and Stanford, and was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities in 1992.

Related Events
22
May 2025
Virtual Event | Invitation Only
US-China Rivalry in the Middle East Conference
Featured Speakers:
Senator Ted Cruz
Congressman Kevin Hern
Elliott Abrams
Michael Doran
Mary Kissel
Bernard Haykel
Joshua Meservey
John Lee
Aaron MacLean
Ray Takeyh
Thomas J. Duesterberg
Jonathan Hessen
Joel Scanlon
Jason Hsu
Dan Blumenthal
Michael Sobolik
Garrett Exner
Ilan Berman
Mike Watson
Moderators:
Liel Leibovitz
Zineb Riboua
Ethan Gutman
Adhwaa Alsaleh
Daniel Samet
(US-China Rivalry in the Middle East logo)
22
May 2025
Virtual Event | Invitation Only
US-China Rivalry in the Middle East Conference

Former policymakers and leading national security experts will join Hudson to assess how China’s growing influence is reshaping the regional order—and how the US should respond.

(US-China Rivalry in the Middle East logo)
Featured Speakers:
Senator Ted Cruz
Congressman Kevin Hern
Elliott Abrams
Michael Doran
Mary Kissel
Bernard Haykel
Joshua Meservey
John Lee
Aaron MacLean
Ray Takeyh
Thomas J. Duesterberg
Jonathan Hessen
Joel Scanlon
Jason Hsu
Dan Blumenthal
Michael Sobolik
Garrett Exner
Ilan Berman
Mike Watson
Moderators:
Liel Leibovitz
Zineb Riboua
Ethan Gutman
Adhwaa Alsaleh
Daniel Samet
23
May 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Trump and the Gulf
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Bernard Haykel
Moderator:
Zineb Riboua
Saudi and United States flags fly as Air Force One arrives at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 13, 2025. (Getty Images)
23
May 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Trump and the Gulf
Saudi and United States flags fly as Air Force One arrives at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 13, 2025. (Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Bernard Haykel
Moderator:
Zineb Riboua
03
June 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Unbroken: One Uyghur’s Fight for Freedom with Rushan Abbas
Featured Speakers:
Rushan Abbas
Dean Baxendale
Damon Wilson
Moderator:
Olivia Enos
Getty Images
03
June 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Unbroken: One Uyghur’s Fight for Freedom with Rushan Abbas

Join Hudson for a discussion of the book and the ways the United States and other countries can support the Uyghur people in their time of need.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Rushan Abbas
Dean Baxendale
Damon Wilson
Moderator:
Olivia Enos
15
May 2025
Past Event
Motwani Jadeja US-India Dialogue Series | Strategic Technology and the US-India Relationship
Featured Speakers:
Lisa Curtis
Lindsey Ford
Jeffrey Bean
Daniel Markey
Moderator:
Aparna Pande
Getty Images
15
May 2025
Past Event
Motwani Jadeja US-India Dialogue Series | Strategic Technology and the US-India Relationship

Hudson will host an expert panel to discuss how increased technology collaboration will benefit the US and India and why these agreements could help both nations expand their partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. 

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Lisa Curtis
Lindsey Ford
Jeffrey Bean
Daniel Markey
Moderator:
Aparna Pande