Human rights, the ethics of warfare and the growing numbers of Britons choosing to become Muslim are among the fascinating issues being explored in a series of public lectures and other events for Experience Islam Week 2005, which runs until 11 February.
Human rights, the ethics of warfare and the growing numbers of Britons choosing to become Muslim are among the fascinating issues being explored in a series of public lectures and other events for Experience Islam Week 2005, which runs until 11 February.
Academics, leading Muslim thinkers and the former Sunday Express journalist Yvonne Ridley, who was captured by the Taleban in 2001 and has since converted to Islam, will be delivering the talks.
The week's highlight will be the LAYLA cultural evening on Thursday (10 February), a celebration of creative work inspired by Islam, with live music, martial arts, poetry, Islamic art, a Moroccan-style souk market, henna tattooing and food.
Experience Islam Week, which started on Saturday (5 February), has been organised by the University of Cambridge Islamic Society so that people can learn more about what Islam stands for.
The organisers said: "Islam Awareness Week is an annual national event, renamed Experience Islam Week with the aim of tailoring it to suit the needs of Cambridge's students, academics and townspeople. It has been a pleasure organising the week and we hope you enjoy and gain from it."
The remaining Experience Islam Week events are:
Tuesday, 8 February
My Journey to Islam
Cambridge students who have converted to Islam share their stories
1.05pm; Ramsden Room, St Catharine's College (see map). Lunch provided
Islam and the World Religions
Speaker: Timothy Winter, Faculty of Divinity
6.45pm; Room LG19, Law Faculty, Sidgwick Site (see map)
Wednesday, 9 February
Islam and the Ethics of Warfare (in association with Amnesty International)
Speaker: Timothy Winter, Faculty of Divinity
1.05pm; Ramsden Room, St Catharine's College. Lunch provided
Average Joe, Average Mo
Revealing the reality behind Britain's 1.8 million Muslims
Speaker: Sarah Joseph, Islamic Society of Britain
6.45pm; Room LG19, Law Faculty, Sidgwick Site
Thursday, 10 February
The Sharia - Human Rights or Human Wrongs?
Speaker: Arzu Merali, Islamic Human Rights Commission
1.05pm; Ramsden Room, St Catharine's College
WEEK HIGHLIGHT
LAYLA - A Cultural Evening Inspired by Islam
An evening of live music, poetry, martial arts and Islamic art, along with a Moroccan souk-style market, henna tattooing and free food
Stalls open at 5pm, main event starts at 6pm; The Guildhall, Market Square
Friday, 11 February
Friday Prayers
An opportunity to observe the weekly Friday prayers, including a sermon by Timothy Winter
1.05pm; St Columba's Hall, Downing Place (off Downing Street, see map)
From Captive to Convert
Speaker: Yvonne Ridley
The former Sunday Express journalist, captured and imprisoned by the Taleban in 2001 and now a Muslim convert, tells her story
6.45pm; Room LG19, Law Faculty, Sidgwick Site
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