Islam, Muslims and Liberal Democracies

As Muslim communities across the West continue to grow and evolve, so do debates over identity, integration, and the future of Islam in secular societies. How can Islam adapt to Western values while staying true to its core tenets? Can a distinctly Western Islam emerge - one that is at home in liberal democracies while resisting both extremism and the erosion of its distinct identity? And how do we address the dual challenge of rising anti-Muslim bigotry and concerns over ethnoreligious segregation?

This panel brings together leading voices to tackle these complex questions:

• Dr. Timothy Winter (Abdul Hakim Murad) – Renowned theologian and scholar of Islam, whose work explores the intersections of Islamic tradition, modernity, and Anglo-Muslim relations. His writings and leadership in Islamic education provide a deep historical and spiritual perspective on Islam’s place in the West.

• Mustafa Akyol – Senior Fellow on Islam and modernity at the Cato Institute, lecturer at Boston College. Author of books such as Reopening Muslim Minds and Why, As a Muslim, I Defend Liberty. Akyol has been a renowned advocate of Islamic liberalism, both in his native Turkey and beyond.

• Kenan Malik – Observer columnist and author of Not So Black and White: A History of Race from White Supremacy to Identity Politics. A critic of identity politics, Malik offers insights on the broader social and political forces shaping the debate around Islam, multiculturalism, and integration.

This discussion will go beyond surface-level narratives to examine how Islam is evolving in the West: its theological and cultural transformations, the pressures from both within and outside Muslim communities, and what the future holds for a faith tradition navigating the demands of modernity and pluralism.

Join us for an evening of deep, balanced, and forward-thinking dialogue.

Event Details
Date and time:

• 📅 22nd April 2025
• ⏰ 7pm - 8.30pm
• 🎟️ Tickets - £20 (Attendees under 30 get 30% off at checkout.)

Location

The Tabernacle, 35 Powis Square, Off Portobello Road, London, W11 2AY

Host or Publisher The Equiano Project