Islam and the State: The Future of Political Islam

A dinner talk on Islam and the State: The Future of Political Islam by Prof James Piscatori, Durham University, UK on Sunday 2nd June 2013 at Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim's residence.

The relationship between Islam and the State is always a very contentious issue. To many reformers the main challenge facing the Islamic societies is how to separate Islam and the state despite the connectedness of Islam and politics. Some advocate the neutrality of the state in religious matters whereby state institutions neither favour nor disfavour any religious doctrine or principle.

Such neutrality is necessary for ensuring and protecting the freedom of individuals in their communities to adopt, object to or modify any view of religious doctrine or principles.