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International experts at Islam conference

7 December 2005

A two-day international conference on Islam co-hosted by Monash and Deakin universities last month attracted world authorities on Islam Professor James Piscatori and Professor Bassam Tibi as keynote speakers.

Professor James Piscatori (left) and Dr Shahram Akbarzadeh.

Professor Piscatori is from the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and Wadham College at London's Oxford University, and Professor Tibi, a leading expert on Islam in the West and the Arab world, is from the University of Goettingen.

The conference, 'Islam, human security and xenophobia', was held at the Arts Centre in Melbourne and focused on Muslim responses to increasing political, social and security challenges.

More than 120 delegates attended the conference, co-organised by Monash School of Political and Social Inquiry senior lecturer Dr Shahram Akbarzadeh.

Dr Akbarzadeh said he was extremely pleased with the interest in the conference and the quality of the papers presented.

"The conference explored the growing role of Islam in world politics and the impact this is having on the Muslim population as well as on Western countries with major Muslim populations," Dr Akbarzadeh said.

"It was particularly pleasing that prominent international scholars such as Professor Piscatori were able to speak at the conference and offer their insights.

"Both Professor Piscatori and Professor Tibi said we can't always blame the West for all of the misfortunes and that Muslims have to look at themselves. Muslims also have a history of xenophobia, so it works both ways."

Dr Akbarzadeh said a flow-on benefit from the conference was the opportunity for Monash to be involved in more collaborative work.

Professor Piscatori will be coming to Monash in 2006 to present a series of lectures. A book based on papers from the conference will also be published.