In March 2017, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that employers could ban staff from wearing religious and political symbols. This ruling highlights how fears of religious radicalisation and threats to religious freedom are common across Europe. The discussion will explore factors that contribute to radicalisation, as well as how people experience limitations on religious freedom. It will consider the UK’s ‘Prevent’ strategy and key issues related to radicalisation and religious freedom in Northern Ireland.

Panellists include:

• Thelfa Ahmad, a student in Electrical Engineering at Queen’s University who has been living in Belfast for twenty years since leaving Iraq.
• Kristin Aune is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University. Her book Religion and Higher Education in Europe and North America (Routledge 2017) explores the role of universities in monitoring religious fundamentalism and freedom of speech on campus.
• Moustafa Faheem, President of the Queen’s University Islamic Society, is a Computer Science student, originally from Egypt, who has been living in Northern Ireland for eight years.
• Gladys Ganiel is a Research Fellow at the Mitchell Institute. Her research focuses on religion and conflict transformation in Northern Ireland.
• Zaheer Kazmi, Senior Research Fellow at the Mitchell Institute, researches the relationship between Islam and liberalism and the impact of counter-terrorism policies on contemporary Muslim politics and culture.
• Michael Wardlow, Chief Commissioner for the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, served 15 years as the CEO of the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education and is a member of the Queen’s University Senate.

Halal lunch from 12 noon, discussion to start 12.30

To register or reserve your place, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/radicalisation-and-freedom-of-religion-on-campus-and-in-the-community-tickets-33395227023?utm_term=eventname_text

For a full programme of events please download the Spring Festival Programme 2017.

Dr Gladys Ganiel, Research Fellow, The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice