Past Debates: Series 8

Series 8 highlights

Watch a selection of highlights from all Series 8 Doha Debates and Doha Debates Specials.

  • Monday, May 21 2012
    This House believes censorship makes a mockery of the arts
    This House believes censorship makes a mockery of the arts
    Nat Muller, Independent curator and critic FOR
    Nada Shabout, Iraqi American art historian AGAINST
    Malek Jandali, Syrian composer and pianist FOR
    Peter Florence, Director of the Hay Festival AGAINST
    MOTION PASSED by 58% to 42%
    Broadcast: 26-27 May, 2012

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  • Monday, April 30 2012
    This House believes Arab governments need to take urgent measures to protect religious minorities
    This House believes Arab governments need to take urgent measures to protect religious minorities


    George Carey, Former Archbishop of Canterbury FOR
    Fadi Daou, CEO of the Adyan Foundation AGAINST
    Ahmed Saad, Former Imam of North London Central mosque FOR
    Roger Bismuth, President of the Tunisian Jewish Community AGAINST
    MOTION PASSED by 72% to 28%
    Broadcast: 5-6 May, 2012

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  • Monday, March 19 2012
    This House believes marriage between close family members should be discouraged
    This House believes marriage between close family members should be discouraged
    Sarfraz Manzoor, Cultural commentator and broadcaster FOR
    Samar Fatany, Writer, columnist and broadcaster AGAINST
    Ohad Birk, Geneticist FOR
    Alan Bittles, Community geneticist AGAINST
    MOTION PASSED by 81% to 19%
    Broadcast: 31 March - 1 April, 2012

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  • Monday, February 27 2012
    This House believes women will be worse off after the Arab revolutions
    This House believes women will be worse off after the Arab revolutions
    Iman Bibars, Vice-president, Ashoka FOR
    Amel Jerary, Lecturer, University of Tripoli AGAINST
    Khedija Arfaoui, Feminist researcher FOR
    Rabab El Mahdi, Political scientist AGAINST
    MOTION REJECTED by 26% to 74%
    Broadcast: 3-4 March, 2012

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  • Thursday, January 12 2012
    This House believes Turkey is a bad model for the new Arab states
    This House believes Turkey is a bad model for the new Arab states

    The statements and views expressed in the debate are solely those of the Doha Debates and the participants.  They are neither endorsed by nor represent the views of Bogazici University.

    Ece Temelkuran, Writer and journalist FOR
    Sinan Ulgen, Carnegie Europe AGAINST
    Hassan Mneimneh, German Marshall Fund FOR
    Aboubakr Jamai, Lakome.com AGAINST
    MOTION PASSED by 59% to 41%
    Broadcast: 21-22 January, 2012
    Venue: Bogazici University, Istanbul

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  • Monday, December 12 2011
    This House has no confidence in Bahrain's promise to reform
    This House has no confidence in Bahrain's promise to reform
    Nabeel Rajab, Bahrain Center for Human Rights FOR
    Khaled Almaeena, Editor-at-Large, Arab News AGAINST
    Christopher Davidson, University of Durham FOR
    Abdulla Alderazi, University of Bahrain AGAINST
    MOTION PASSED by 78% to 22%
    Broadcast: 17-18 December, 2011

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  • Sunday, November 27 2011
    This House believes President Assad must resign
    This House believes President Assad must resign
    Obeida Nahas, Syrian National Council FOR
    Ammar Waqqaf, Syrian Social Club AGAINST
    Emile Hokayem, Senior Fellow for Regional Security, IISS Middle East FOR
    Kamel Wazne, Political analyst AGAINST
    MOTION PASSED by 91% to 9%
    Broadcast: 3-4 December, 2011

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  • Wednesday, October 26 2011
    This House believes the Egyptian military is not interested in genuine reform
    This House believes the Egyptian military is not interested in genuine reform
    Mohamed Fahmy Menza, Founding member, Misr Al Horreya Party/ Professor, AUC FOR
    Sameh Seif- Elyazal, Chairman, Al Gomhouria Center AGAINST
    Heba Morayef, Human Rights Watch FOR
    Gamal Abdel Gawad Soltan, Professor, Political Science AGAINST
    MOTION PASSED by 85% to 15%
    Broadcast: 5-6 November, 2011
    Venue: Cairo, Egypt

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