WORLD DEBT LECTURE
Global Debt Crises: An Islamic Perspective
12/04/07

Debt is a cause of Poverty! This statement would seem blindingly obvious to anyone who heard it. Yet we are still living in a world where billions suffer the ignominy of poverty and debt, and where one fifth of the world’s population is forced to live on less than $1 a day..

	Tuesday 15th May 2007 5.15pm
	The Venue: Barber Institute of Fine Arts University of Birmingham Tea and coffee will be served from 4.15pm when you will have the opportunity to meet Professor Khurshid Ahmad
	“He who sleeps on a full stomach whilst his neighbour goes hungry is not one of us! [Saying of the Prophet Muhammad, (pbuh)]

The Event
As a reaction to this, Islamic Relief UK has worked with the University of Birmingham and the Jubilee Debt Campaign to bring about the “Global Debt Crises: An Islamic Perspective”. The event is to be held from 5:15pm to 7:45pm on Tuesday 15th May 2007, at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT.

The Guest of Honour
Professor Khurshid Ahmad, Chairman of theInstitute

Professor Khurshid Ahmad - Chairman of the Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan

of Policy Studies in Islamabad, Pakistan,and Chairman of the Islamic Foundation in Leicester, UK will be the guest of honour at the event, and will facilitate discussions between the assembled guests and dignitaries.

The Weight of Indebtedness
Muhammad Imran, Development Education Manager for Islamic Relief, UK, said:
“It would be a great pleasure to welcome Professor Khurshid Ahmad to this event. He is an extremely well respected and renowned scholar in the field, and his insights and expertise will, I am sure, help people to realise the desperate situation of a world drowning under the weight of its own debt”.

The Problem with Interest
An issue that will no doubt be raised is that of riba’a (interest). Interest is forbidden in both the Islamic and Christian religious texts, yet it has trapped billions into a seemingly endless spiral of debt!

Faith based initiatives
There are roughly 1.2 billion Muslims across the world, comprising one fifth of the population. A huge amount of Muslims however, also suffer from poverty. This is therefore an issue on which Muslims both can and must play a major part.

Compelled by faith to help those less fortunate than themselves, social responsibility is an issue that has the potential to unite all people of faiths and no faith towards a common goal of putting a smiles on the faces of the poor.

Promoting Dialogue and Understanding
Islamic Relief UK, the Jubilee Debt Campaign and the University of Birmingham hope that this event will continue to promote dialogue in the area. It is also hoped that the dialogue will be another step in the fight poverty and indebtedness.

For further information, please contact Hamayoon Sultan, Development Education Co-ordinator, Islamic Relief, on 0121 380 2380.