Is Muslim integration in Europe possible? Is Islam Compatible with Secularism? Is Europe unable to assimilate Its growing Islamic Minority? Representing the Muslim perspective was Professor Tariq Ramadan, Tariq is a Swiss Muslim academic and theologian, he holds MA in Philosophy and French literature and PhD in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the University of Geneva. He is a grandson of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood (Al-Ikhwan Al-Muslimoon) in Egypt. In Cairo, Egypt he received one-on-one intensive training in classic Islamic scholarship from Al-Azhar University scholars. He advocates the studying and re-interpretation of Islamic texts, and emphasizes the heterogeneous nature of Islamic society. He believes that Muslims in Europe have to establish a new "European Islam", and emphasizes the necessity for their engagement in European society. Tariq Ramadan has resigned from the post of Professor of Islamic Studies at Notre Dame University (Classic Department) and Luce Professor at the Kroc Institute (Religion Conflict and Peacebuilding). Prof. Tariq Ramadan is Professor of Islamic Studies (Faculty of Theology at Oxford) He is also a visiting Professor (holding the chair : Identity and Citizenship) at Erasmus University (Netherland) Representing the Secular side was Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Ayaan is a controversial Dutch feminist, writer, and politician. She is the estranged daughter of the Somali scholar, politician, and revolutionary opposition leader Hirsi Magan Isse. In 2005, she was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, She has also received several awards for her work, including Norway's Human Rights Service's Bellwether of the Year Award, the Danish Freedom Prize, the Swedish Democracy Prize, and the Moral Courage Award for commitment to conflict resolution, ethics, and world citizenship. The Topic of Debate: Is Muslim integration in Europe possible? Tariq Said Ramadan (www.tariqramadan.com) vs. Ayaan Hirsi Ali (www.ayaanhirsiali.web-log.nl) (Global Axess special, Sweden 2006)
