Theology, International Law, and Torture A Conference on Human Rights and Religious Commitment

Abstract

In the post-9/11 environment, the American Muslim community has finally
realized that it can no longer keep the rest of American society at arm’s length
while seeking to establish its own infrastructure and ensuring its continuity as
a distinct community. One example of this community’s increased participation
in American civil society is its new-found interest in interfaith dialogue.
With such reasoning in mind, the Muslim community has partnered with various
faith communities to create the National Religious Campaign against
Torture (NRCAT), which was launched during the “Theology, International
Law, and Torture: A Conference on Human Rights and Religious Commitment”
conference sponsored by Princeton Theological Seminary, 13-15 January
2006, in Princeton, New Jersey.
Religious leaders from across the nation, as well as Mohamed Elsanousi
(director, Communication and Community Outreach, Islamic Society of
North America [ISNA]) Mohammed Shafiq (executive director, Center for
Interfaith Studies and Dialogue, Nazareth College, and imam, Islamic
Center of Rochester); and Azhar Azeez (member, ISNA Executive Council and director, Islamic Association of Carrollton) as representatives of ISNA,
worked together at this conference to build a powerful, spiritually based
coalition. Over 160 eminent religious and academic figures, authors, journalists,
retired government and military officers, human rights activists, and
lawyers spoke ...