In recent years a number of conferences and seminars have been held in Europe and elsewhere with muslim and non-muslim participants in order to explain to non-muslims the concepts of human rights in Islam and, in particular, in Islamic law (Shari’a).
The Seminar on Human Rights in Islam organised by the International Commission of Jurists, together with the University of Kuwait and the Union of Arab Lawyers, in December 1980 was of a different character.
As the title indicates, its purpose was to provide a forum for muslim lawyers and scholars from all parts of the Islamic world to discuss among themselves some of the subjects of critical importance to them both in Islamic states and in secular states.
After many vigorous and learned debates the participants agreed upon a detailed statement of conclusions and recommendations.
A full report of the seminar is to be published in arabic by the University of Kuwait. The International Commission of Jurists is publishing this short report in english and french, in which the working papers are briefly summarised.
The Conclusions and Recommendations, which are of particular interest and relevance to problems in Islamic countries and countries with Islamic minorities, are published in full.
human rights in Islam-seminar report-1980-eng (full text in English, PDF)
human rights in Islam-seminar report-1980-fra (full text in French, PDF)