WASHINGTON, September 26, 2012 —
CAPITOL HILL BRIEFING
Freedom of Speech vs. Freedom of Religion in the Islamic World and Western Democracies: A Clash of Civilizations?
Where: 2226 Rayburn House Office Building
When: 11:30am – 12:30pm, Friday, 5 October, 2012
Religious freedom and freedom of speech has faced both strong support and heavy criticism following the 9/11/12 consulate attack in Benghazi and embassy protests throughout the world.
The events reveal fundamental disagreements between how the United States views basic rights and what many Muslim majority countries view as basic rights. At the center of the debate is the conflict over freedom of speech versus freedom of religion.
The recent consulate attack in Libya and embassy protests leave us with many questions: Should censorship and regulation be imposed in order to appease the sensitivities of religious groups? Do the protests reflect widespread antagonism against American democratic values in the Islamic world or are radical Islamists manipulating the Innocence of Muslims video for their own ends? How do these changing dynamics impact future democratic change and human rights?
Speakers:
- Paul Marshall, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
- Joshua Polacheck, Senior Policy Director for Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State (Tentative)
- Zainab Al-Suwaij, Co-Founder and Executive Director, American Islamic Congress
Catered lunch is provided by the American Islamic Congress.
