THE CENTER FOR ISLAM, DEMOCRACY, AND THE FUTURE OF THE MUSLIM WORLD cordially invites you to a discussion and luncheon on the book: ISLAM AND LIBERTY: THE HISTORICAL MISUNDERSTANDING
with the author,
FORMER TUNISIAN MINISTER OF EDUCATION
MOHAMED CHARFI
In his important new book Islam and Liberty: The Historical Misunderstanding, the prominent Tunisian scholar Dr. Mohamed Charfi examines the reasons why so many Arab and Muslim societies have struggled, often violently, to adapt to modern and democratic life. Dr. Charfi emphasizes the need for a fresh approach to Islamic history and to the interpretation of Islamic religious law, and stresses the importance of educational reform in building democratic and prosperous futures for Muslim societies. Mohamed Charfi is one of the most prominent Muslim scholars in North Africa and the French-speaking world today. For many years, he was a professor in the Law Faculty in Tunis, where he is now Professor Emeritus. During the course of his distinguished academic career, he published a number of books in French and Arabic on legal and other themes. A student leader in the General Union of Tunisian Students in Paris in the 1960s, Professor Charfi helped to found in Tunisia the progressive and democratic group Perspectives. In 1968, the state security court sentenced him to prison for two years. Twenty years later, he became the first Vice President and then President of the Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights (1981-89). In 1989, Professor Charfi became Tunisia's Minister of Education and introduced over a period of five years wide-ranging educational reforms that he believed were long overdue in Muslim countries. In 1994, Professor Charfi resigned from government in protest against the excessive violence with which Tunisian security forces were putting down opposition to these reforms.
The purpose of Hudson Institute's Center on Islam, Democracy and the Future of the Muslim World is to research and analyze the ideological dimension of Islamism and radical Islam, and to encourage and support moderate and democratic alternatives within the Muslim world. As part of this effort, the center has established the Islam and Democracy Project, a series of seminars and conferences with Muslim scholars and leaders on the present and future relationship between Islam and democracy.
Hudson Institute is a non-partisan policy research organization dedicated to innovative research and analysis that promotes global security, prosperity and freedom. We challenge conventional thinking and help manage strategic transitions to the future through interdisciplinary and collaborative studies in defense, international relations, economics, culture, science, technology and law. Through publications, conferences and policy recommendations, we seek to guide global leaders in government and business.
