International Symposium: “Islam and International Human Rights Law”

Faculty of Law and Political Science, Lecture Hall C, Building 1 – 39 Rue de l’Université, 34060 Montpellier.

While much research focuses on the role of human rights in Islam, studies examining Islam within the context of international human rights law are, by contrast, relatively rare, even though this is a crucial issue that highlights the tension between the universality of rights and the discourse on particularity.

This conference project stems from two observations: first, a disconnect between, on the one hand, the recurrence of caricatural discourse on Islam—often portrayed as contrary to the ideology of human rights—and, on the other hand, the adherence of Arab-Muslim states to international human rights treaties, and even the development of an Arab-Muslim system for the protection of rights; secondly, the dramatic increase in cases involving Islam in the case law of human rights bodies.

Increasingly, international human rights bodies must assess whether practices and mechanisms derived from Islamic law are consistent with the Convention. One need only cite the landmark 2003 ruling by the European Court of Human Rightsin Refah Partisi v. Turkeyregarding the compatibility of Sharia law with the values of the Convention.

Furthermore, this event, which is intended to be multidisciplinary—even though it will retain a predominantly legal focus—provides an opportunity for a broad and critical examination of the links between Islam and international human rights law.

The aim is to go beyond a mere comparison of the principles of Islam and international human rights law—a comparison that remains, of course, essential. The goal is to contribute to the discussion on solutions that—without denying the differences that may exist—highlight relationships based on mutual enrichment and complementarity.

The participation of practitioners who are members of international regulatory bodies will help give concrete substance to the ideas and proposals put forward.

More information:

• Download the program
• Download the registration form and return it by October 20, 2018, at the latest