British Secularists' National Debate: "Islam in a Secular Europe"

The UK's leading annual secularist assembly this year will focus exclusively on scrutinizing Islam and Europe's Muslims.

"Islam in a Secular Europe" is the theme of the 2011 Secular Europe Campaign debate, hosted on 16 September by the British Humanist Association (BHA) and the Central London Humanists, in association with Conway Hall.

Using a "Question Time" format, this debate comes one year on from the Pope's state visit to the UK, which prompted the largest ever secularist protests against the policies of the Vatican, and demonstrated the strength that secularists wield in the UK.

This year’s event purports to bring together some of the country's leading secularist thinkers and activists to debate and discuss topics including: whether there is a clash of cultures between European values and Islamic ones; whether religious freedom of Muslims in Europe depends on secularism; if veil and burkha bans are secularist or counter-secularist; what the relationship should be between sharia rules and secular law; and if secularism can admit any limitations on freedom of expression in religious matters.

Panellists include:

Yahya Birt, the Commissioning Editor at Kube Publishing and co-editor of British Secularism and Religion: Islam, Society and the State

Sir David Blatherwick, diplomat, writer, distinguished supporter of Humanism, and current Trustee for the British University in Egypt

Humeira Iqtida, lecturer at King's College London and author of Secularising Islamists? Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamaat-ud-Dawa in Pakistan

Maleiha Malik, Professor in Law at King's College London teacher of courses in Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, Discrimination Law and European Law;

Maryam Namazie, well-known critic of political Islam and commentator on women's rights, violence against women, cultural relativism, secularism, Humanism, religion, and Islam.

BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented, "Secularism is a way of protecting people of all different religions and those with none. It is vital that public debate and enquiry into secular issues includes people from all backgrounds, and to question how, in a continent that gave rise to liberal democracy and the values of human rights, we can ensure that no one is discriminated against on the basis of religion. Being able to put questions to this expert panel is a tremendous opportunity for the public to explore the effect secularism has on a multicultural society, and will contribute to ensuring that public policy is informed by open public debate."