A rare opportunity to hear Mohammad Khatami

Dr Mohammad Khatami is an Iranian scholar and statesman. He was the first reformist president of Iran from 1997 to 2005. A student of western philosophy and Islamic sciences, he has also lectured in political philosophy. He is the author of numerous books and publications including "Islam, Liberty and Development" and "Faith and Thought Trapped by Despotism". Dr Khatami is the founder of the International Institute for Dialogue among Cultures and Civilizations.

In 1992 political scientist Samuel P Huntington introduced his theory of the clash of civilisations. At its core, it maintains that culture and religion are the root cause of global conflicts in the world today. When the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon were attacked by Islamic extremists, fear and panic spread throughout the world and the so called attacks on freedom and democracy seemed to echo Huntington's theories. The same year, the UN passed a resolution to name 2001 as the year of the "Dialogue Among Civilizations". It was spearheaded by the then president of Iran, Mohammad Khatami. Since the time of Socrates, dialogue has been crucial to a greater understanding of humanity. In this talk at the ANU Khatami maintains the importance of dialogue, stressing that only when we leave the political sphere of negotiations and debate, can a meaningful exchange of ideas and sympathies take place.

ABC FORA provides a rare opportunity to hear the Iranian cleric.....

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