Media in the Muslim world: Quality Control or Censorship?

The American Islamic Congress leads a monthly Capitol Hill Distinguished Speakers Series on Muslim affairs, sponsored by the Congressional Religious Freedom and Anti-Terrorism caucuses.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008
121 Canon Building, Capitol Hill
12 p.m.

Many regimes in the Muslim world limit media freedom - an extreme recent example being the death sentence for Syed Parvez Kambakhsh, a student journalist in Afghanistan facing execution for distributing writing on women's rights. In the Arab world, Saudi Arabia and Qatar recently struck a deal to have the Qatari-owned Al-Jazeera stop attacking the Saudi regime. What is the status of the media in the Muslim world? What is allowed and what is prohibited? Who decides? And how can the US support free media to advance reform in the Muslim world.

Featuring:
Omran Salman: Executive Director of Aafaq, Arab reform website 

Maneeza Hossain: Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

Richard Eisendorf: Middle East North Africa Senior Program Manager, Freedom House

Moderated by:
Hussain Abdul Hussain: Washington Correspondent, Al-Rai newspaper (Kuwait)

To view a summary of this event, please click here.

Movements of Extremism in the Muslim World
How do repressive states nurture extremism? What are grassroots reformers doing in response?
Panelists: Ammar Abdulhamid (Tharwa Foundation), Mansour Al Haj (Aafaq), Nasser Weddady (HAMSA-AIC)

Religious Minorities in the Muslim World
What is the status of minorities and why do obstacles to religious freedom remain?
Panelists: Samuel Rizk (Forum for Development, Culture and Dialogue), Edouard Al Dahdah (World Bank), Zahir Janmohamed (Amnesty International)

Islam vs. Islamism
What is the threat posed by Islamic fundamentalism, and how can Muslims take the lead in countering it?
Panelists: Hussain Abdul Hussain (former editor of Beirut Daily Star), Dr. Ayse Kadayifci (American University), Dr. Tamara Cofman Wittes (Brookings Institution)