FATWAS — FROM SALMAN RUSHDIE TO DOW JONES

FATWAS — FROM SALMAN RUSHDIE TO DOW JONES

The latest in the New York City Bar Association’s continuing presentations on Islamic Law brings together an outstanding panel to discuss the primary element of Islamic jurisprudence – the Fatwa. This is an important opportunity to understand how legal and religious disputes are resolved throughout the Muslim world. Fatwas, in Arabic fatawa, are the non-binding but precedential legal opinions issued by muftis, scholars of Islamic law. The fatwas cover every aspect of Islamic law, and therefore Muslim life. Our speakers will both explain the processes by which fatawa are issued and explore a number of areas in which they play a critical role.

This program is free of charge and open to the public. Members of the media should register with the press coordinator at (212) 382-6713, or by e–mail at ompi@nycbar.org.

MODERATOR:
ROBERT E. MICHAEL, Chair, Committee on Foreign and Comparative Law

SPEAKERS:
PROFESSOR BERNARD FREAMON, Seton Hall Law School
Topic: The Use of Fatawa: Muftis, Qadis and the Ottoman Office of Fetvas

PROFESSOR HAIDER ALA HAMOUDI, The University of Pittsburgh Law School
Topic: Render Unto Caesar or Revolution: Shi’a Political Fatawa of the Past 100 Years

PROFESSOR LAURY SILVERS, Skidmore College
Topic: Fatawa for the Family: Rituals, Authority, and Hijab

ABED AWAD, practicing lawyer, Adjunct Professor Rutgers Law School, Board Member of KARAMAH (Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights)
Topic: Fatawa to Solve Commercial Disputes

PROFESSOR MARK D. WELTON (LT. COL., RET.), The United States Military Academy, West Point
Topic: Fatawa Go to War — Offensive and Defensive Jihad

MICHAEL J.T. MCMILLEN, Dechert LLP; Lecturer–in–Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School and Wharton School of Business, Chair of the American Bar Association’s Islamic Law Forum
Topic: The Dow Jones Fatwa and Islamic Finance

About the Association
The New York City Bar Association (www.nycbar.org) was founded in 1870, and since then has been dedicated to maintaining the high ethical standards of the profession, promoting reform of the law, and providing service to the profession and the public. The Association continues to work for political, legal and social reform, while implementing innovative means to help the disadvantaged. Protecting the public’s welfare remains one of the Association’s highest priorities.