Zaoui Lecture To Be Delivered At Auckland Uni

Zaoui Lecture To Be Delivered At Auckland University

Clash of Civilizations: Myth or Reality?

Date: 19 Oct 2004 Host: Ahmed Zaoui

Department: Political Studies

Venue: Room 039, the Clocktower

Time: 6pm – 7:30pm

Entering the country as a refugee escaping a death sentence from the brutal Algerian military regime, Ahmed Zaoui has now spent almost two years in prison. While initially marked as having terrorist links by the government, the Refugee Status Appeals Authority, the Human Rights Foundation and Amnesty International have all argued he is a refugee and peace activist.

It is this controversy over his identity that has made Zaoui one of New Zealand's most talked about men. However, Zaoui himself has been unable to answer to these claims, trapped in the media shutdown of Auckland's Central Remand Prison.

This will be one of the first opportunities to hear his voice in the public arena. In this lecture, Zaoui will draw from his knowledge as a former Professor of Comparative Religious Studies on how the events of September 11, 2001 have affected the Western perception of Islam.

The issues that he raises shed light not only on the Algerian situation, but also on the way the current international climate has changed the face of New Zealand politics.

Zaoui's plight has the potential to impact on us all, touching on many of the cornerstone foundations of our society, such as democracy, national security and multiculturalism. In the absence of Zaoui's attendance, Professor Andrew Sharp from the Department of Political Studies will read his lecture, followed by a panel discussion and an opportunity to ask questions.

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