Examining the Extremes, Panel Discussion 4 - What can/should different sectors of society do to tackle extreme fringes?
Where: Dialogue Society Birmingham Branch, 4 Vicarage Road, Birmingham, B15 3ES
Date: 28th May 2014
Time: 18:00
Speaker:
- Waqar Ahmed, Prevent Manager, Birmingham City Council
- Dr Arshad Isakjee, University of Birmingham
- Ismail Mesut Sezgin, Centre for Hizmet Studies
Abstract
The Dialogue Society, Birmingham Branch is organising a panel discussion series entitled, ‘Examining the extremes: exploring the causes of and connections between violent “religious” extremism and extreme right wing movements’.
This series will consist of four panel discussions exploring violent “religious” extremism and extreme right wing movements in the UK. It will consider what terms are most accurate and useful in talking about extremism, examining what we know about the causes of its different forms and considering the responsibilities and opportunities of different groups and institutions for tackling the threat of extremism.
Speakers will consider and address the sub-questions provided for each panel title.
Questions
- What factors (social, political, economic, ideological, cultural) seem to contribute most significantly to people adopting extremism?
- What are the responsibilities and opportunities of: government?
civil society?
educational institutions?
Biography of Arshad Isakjee
Dr. Arshad Isakjee a social and urban geographer who specialises in identity, belonging, security and the governance of communities. His ESRC-funded doctoral research investigated the political-identity and governance of Muslim communities in Birmingham, in light of the Government’s emerging set of counter-terrorism and anti-extremism policies. In addition to his academic work he has also worked on the UK government's All-Party Parliamentary Group on tackling Islamophobia. He currently teaches MSc students in the Department of Geography within the University of Birmingham.
Biography of Ismail Mesut Sezgin
Ismail Mesut Sezgin is a PhD researcher at the Institute for Spirituality, Religion and Public Life in Leeds Metropolitan University. Having had his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at Marmara University in Istanbul, Sezgin is now studying on religion and society relations. He is working on a PhD thesis titled "Theory of Moral Responsibility in the Writings of Fethullah Gülen". His research interests include Ethics, Islam, Sufism, Political Islam and Turkish Politics. He has given seminars and reflections on these issues in various occasions.
