Islamic scholar to speak on nonviolence, peace

SALT LAKE CITY — A coalition of organizations focused on nonviolence and peace is bringing noted scholar Tariq Ramadan to Utah for two lectures on March 20-21 about finding peace in the Middle East. Both lectures are free and open to the public.

The first talk, “Islam and Human Rights: How Will the Arab Spring bring Peace to the Middle East?” is Wednesday, March 20 at 7 p.m. at the Salt Lake Main Library, 210 E. 400 South. The second, “The Needs of Ethics when Dealing with an Islamic Legal System” is Thursday, March 21, at noon in the Marriott Library on the University of Utah campus.

Ramadan is professor of contemporary Islamic studies at Oxford University and a fellow of St. Anthony’s College. He is also director of the Center for Research on Islamic Legislation and Ethics in Doha, Qatar. His most recent book is “The Arab Awakening, Islam and the New Middle East,” published in 2012.

His lectures will be the first of a series of talks exploring “Pathways to Peace.” More information about the future events is available online at www.humanrights.utah.edu.