Past Debates: Series 1

Wednesday, June 01 2005

This House believes that Arab women should have full equality with men

Toujan Faisal, First woman elected to the Jordanian parliament FOR
Sheikh Jihad Brown, Islamic scholar AGAINST
Tareq Mohammed Al Suwaidan, Presenter of Islamic television programmes FOR
Khola Hassan, Author and outspoken figure on women in Islam AGAINST
MOTION PASSED by 86% to 14%
Broadcast: 11-12 June, 2005
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- The debate

Thursday, April 28 2005

This House believes that the war on terror has become a war on Islam

Anas Altikriti, Founder, Muslim Association of Britain FOR
Feisal Abdul Rauf, Imam of Masjid al-Farah in New York City AGAINST
Mustafa Ceric, Grand Mufti of Bosnia-Herzegovina FOR
Ramzi E. Khoury, Strategic communications consultant, journalist and columnist AGAINST
MOTION REJECTED by 50% to 50%
Broadcast: 7-8 May, 2005
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- The debate

Wednesday, March 30 2005

This House believes that George Bush has kicked open the door to democracy in the Middle East

Fouad Ajami, Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies FOR
Ghayth Armanazi, Chairman, Arab International Media Forum AGAINST
Salameh B. Nematt, Washington, D.C. bureau chief, Al-Hayat FOR
Azzam S. Tamimi, Director, Institute of Islamic Political Thought AGAINST
MOTION REJECTED by 27% to 73%
Broadcast: 9-10 April, 2005
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- The debate

Wednesday, February 23 2005

This House believes that the Middle East road Map for peace is dead

Flynt Leverett, Senior Fellow, Saban Center for Middle East Policy FOR
Ghassan Khatib, Minister of Labor, Palestinian Authority AGAINST
Alastair Crooke, Co-founder, Conflicts Forum FOR
Rabbi Michael Melchior, Israeli Deputy Minister of Education, Culture and Sport AGAINST
MOTION REJECTED by 46% to 54%
Broadcast: 26-27 February, 2005
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- Speakers
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- The debate

Monday, January 17 2005

This House believes that Iraq's neighbours have no wish to see a democratic Iraq

Mohammed Al Douri, Former representative of Iraq to the United Nations FOR
Clare Short, UK Secretary of State for International Development 1997- 2003 AGAINST
Patrick Theros, U.S. Ambassador to Qatar 1995- 1998 FOR
Abdel Bari Atwan, Editor in chief, Al-Quds Al-Arabi AGAINST
MOTION REJECTED by 37% to 63%
Broadcast: 29-30 January, 2005
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- Speakers
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- The debate

Tuesday, November 30 2004

This House believes in the separation of mosque and state

Tarek Heggy, Author and commentator FOR
Tun Mahathir bin Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia 1981-2003 AGAINST
Abdelwahab El-Affendi, Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Westminster FOR
Laith Shubeilat, Former Jordanian politician AGAINST
MOTION PASSED

Wednesday, October 13 2004

This House believes that Arab Governments are not interested in genuine reform

Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Egyptian human rights activist FOR
Hussein Shobokshi, President of the Hussein Shobokshi Organization AGAINST
Rime Allaf, Broadcaster and consultant on Middle East affairs FOR
Adel Darwish, Journalist and broadcaster AGAINST
MOTION PASSED
- Transcript
- Speakers