07/10/2004

In a distressing event, a group of anonymous hoodlums orally and physically attacked the participants, the audience and the journalists who attended Ibn Khaldun's press conference celebrating the conclusion of Ibn Khaldun's Workshop on Islam and Reform, which was held at Pyramisa Hotel in Cairo 5-6 October, 2004.

The Islam and Reform Workshop was attended by more than 20 intellectuals and scholars----from the Islamic world as well as from the West--- concerned with the vital and pressing issue of religious reform, ijtihad, in Islam.

The workshop reached a general consensus on the urgent steps to be taken toward a genuine Islamic Reformation. The attached 10-point Declaration issued by the participants at the conclusion of the workshop spell out explicitly the required course .

Worth noting is that the workshop's organizers had invited representatives of different religious groups in Egypt to participate in the workshop with a view to opening the door for a constructive dialogue that would help promote their eventual legitimate participation in Egypt's political life. Regrettably, however, none of them chose to attended.

We believe that the workshop proved to be extremely enlightening and constructive. But unfortunately it seemed to have aggravated some quarters that are adamantly opposed to any kind of reform. These enemies of reform. taking advantage of the conspicuous absence of the usual state security in such events, sent their henchmen to disrupt the press conference that was to be held at the close of the workshop. The obvious goal was to prevent widespread press coverage of the subject matter as a result of journalists engaging in a serious dialogue with the participants.

The Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies denounces such hooliganism---which was aired on Arab satellites--- which can only tarnish Egypt's reputation and offend its foreign and Arab guests.

On the other hand, this regrettable incident attests clearly to the desperation of the diehard traditionalists who would maintain an ossified medieval interpretation of the Holy Text. It therefore also underscores the importance of increasing the efforts towards attaining a deep religious reformation that would expose the true and noble spirit of Islam, and the suitability of its fundamental principles as a guide for all ages. Towards this end our Center, in collaboration with other enlightened organizations and scholars, intends to organize many more such forums, workshops and conferences in the near future.

The Ibn Khladun Center will soon organize another press conference (instead of the disrupted one) to respond to the questions of journalists and news agencies regarding this first workshop on Islam and Reform.

The Center will also notify the Press of the date of its forthcoming workshop.