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A Preview of the 2014 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

We’re only a month away from this year’s U.S.-Islamic World Forum, which will take place June 9-11 in Doha. This year’s Forum’s theme is “Islam and Inclusion.” It will feature plenary discussions on the future role of the United States in the Middle East and South Asia, whether jihadis are winning the Arab Spring, freedom of worship around the world, the future of the Palestinian people beyond the context of the peace process, and the ongoing crisis in Syria. 

As always, our Forum will include expert working groups to produce policy recommendations on topics of mutual interest to the United States and Muslims around the world. The topics this year, related to the theme of inclusion, are Islamic principles of governance for post-conflict countries, countering violent extremism in Pakistan, and strategies for using Islamic tradition to overcome social and political challenges faced by European and American Muslims. 

For the first time this year, the Forum will also feature an action group, which will launch a new initiative to address a major challenge within the year’s theme. This year’s Action Group seeks to promote inclusion, reconciliation and sustainable economic development in Timbuktu, Mali. Its proposed business plan includes the return of the Festival Au Désert music festival to Timbuktu and the restoration of Timbuktu’s manuscripts.

If you would like to hear a bit more about what to expect in Doha, you can watch the video below:

 

If you won’t be with us in Doha, we invite you to join our conversations online. To get an idea of what’s in store, please visit our website to see findings and recommendations from our 2013 Forum working groups and to watch our video highlights from last year’s forum. 

Keep checking this space for updates on the upcoming forum, as we post videos previewing the lively discussions to come. Follow us on Twitter or tweet your own ideas with the hashtag #usislam14