Frauen ohne Grenzen | Women without borders

Muslims and the West: Living Together - but how?

Diverse Modern Views from European, Asian and North American Muslims

18. Oktober 2007 10:0016:00
Camineum National Library of Vienna, Josefsplatz 1

The Pew Global Attitudes Survey in 2006 found that Muslims living in Europe are generally positive about the conditions in their host country. Topping “their” as well as “our” list of concerns is unemployment followed by Islamic extremism; additionally, Muslims feel that the influence of secular culture poses a greater threat to their way of living than does the public emergence of Muslim women.

Muslims in the West, especially Muslim women, still perceive a huge divide between themselves and those among whom they live. This view is often reinforced by native Europeans and Americans, who see Muslim immigrants as purposefully isolating themselves from the rest of society.

This conference will furnish a unique platform to gather the voices of Muslim women and men from Europe, Asia and North America. It will provide them with a forum to present their views, their strategies, and their hopes and ambitions.
The Muslim keynote speakers and representatives of young Muslim communities will present their expertise and personal views at a day-long event

We cordially invite you to participate in this unique event! Entrance is free!


Program

10.00: Official Opening

Welcome:
U.S. Ambassador Susan McCaw

State Secretary Dr. Hans Winkler, BMEIA

Introduction:
Dr. Edit Schlaffer, Women without Borders

10.30 – 12.00: 1st Panel

Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State for women’s empowerment, US State Department, Washington

Dato’ Seri Shahrizat Binti Abdul Jalil, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Kuala Lumpur

Haifa al Kaylani, Chairwoman Arab International Women's Forum, London

Ed Husain, author of the book “The Islamist”, joined radical Islam in Britain, London

Moderator: Madeleine Bunting, The Guardian, London

12.00 - 13.30: Lunch Break

13.30 – 15.00: 2nd Panel

Farah Pandith, Senior Advisor, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, US State
Department, Washington

Parvin Ali OBE, Founder and director of the FATIMA Women’s Network, Leicester

Zümrüt Gülbay, youngest university professor ever in Germany, member of the German Muslim Summit, Berlin

Amr Khaled, Media presenter; founder and chairman of the Right Start Foundation International, Birmingham

Moderator: Manal Omar, Oxfam, Oxford


15.00 – 16.00: Open discussion forum and closing session

The Future is Now: Strategies for a Culture of Optimism and Understanding!


This event is organised by Women without Borders in cooperation with the United States Mission to the European Union and the American Embassy in Vienna.

Please register: office@women-without-borders.org or fax: +43 1 533 455 2

For more information please contact the Women without Borders office:
office@women-without-borders.org
phone: 0043 1 533 455 1


We are looking forward to welcoming you!