Debates With Sunni Scholars

Debate - The Sunni-Shia Conflict & Image Of Islam (127 MB)

Participants At the Latest Doha Debate Have Strongly Defended Islam's Image After Repeated Accusations That It Dad Been Damaged By The Sunni-Shia Conflict In Iraq. In A Series Of Robust Exchanges, There Was Strong Disagreement About The Effects Of Violence Between Islam's Two Largest Denominations. Juan Cole, Professor Of History At The University Of Michigan, Said Recent Polls Showed That Americans Believed Islam Contained More Violent Extremists Than Other Religions And Sectarian Fighting Must Have Contributed To That impression. Opposing The Motion, Sayid Hassan Al Qazwini Said There Was "No Conflict Between Sunnis And Shias." Supporting Him, Dr Hisham Hellyer, Fellow Of The Oxford Centre For Islamic Studies And Director Of The Visionary Consultants Group, Rejected The Notion. "The West Has Been Critical Of Islam For A Thousand Years And Portrayed It As Violent - And That Has Nothing To Do With The Sunni-Shia Divide" he said.