Memorable Iqbal seminar held at University of Copenhagen

The Faculty of Theology at University of Copenhagen organised an academic seminar inspired by Allama Iqbal, the national poet philosopher of Pakistan, on 12 November 2011. It was the first seminar of its kind ever held in Copenhagen. It was arranged by Dr. Jørgen S. Nielsen, Professor and director of the university’s Centre for European Islamic Thought (CEIT); Dr. Lissi Rasmussen, director for the Islamic-Christian Study Centre (IKS); and Dr. Safet Bektovic, in collaboration with Ghulam Sabir, Chairman, Iqbal Academy Scandinavia (IAS).  

The seminar included a lecture by Jørgen S. Nielsen, where he presented his views on the Arab Spring’s background, perspective and consequences on countries of the West and the East. This followed by half an hour of lively discussion, questions and answers on his speech. Sarosh Alamgir (photo), a learned member of IAS Executive Board, then delivered a speech on Global co-existence/consequences/perspectives Western and  Eastern.
This was followed by a speech of a French student from Oxford University – Laurent Lambert, who spoke on the academic discourses prevailed about autocracy and democracy in the Arab world prior to Arab Spring. The two speeches of fifteen minutes each were followed by half an hour question/answer session and interesting dialogues. 

Ghulam Sabir, Shahzad Qaiser and Safet Bektovic.

After lunch the Chief Guest speaker Dr Shahzad Qaiser, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Iqbal Academy Pakistan, besides being a philosopher, poet and great writer, delivered a speech on cultural diversity and integration. During his speech he quoted various extracts from Iqbal’s writings as well as references from the Qur’an. After finishing his speech he was engaged in a shower of questions by participants from all sides.
Dr. Safet Bektovic, Lecturer at the Centre for European Islamic Thought, presented a well thought and academically rich talk on the topic Religious and Secular Challenges related to social Justice, which invited keen interest from the participants.
The seminar became indeed a memorable event and a real example of cultural unity in the Danish capital city.