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Nadia Yassine Builds Bridges
of Understanding
during her Book Tour in the US
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Madame Nadia Yassine a guest of honor
in a dinner ceremony at Dartmouth College
(New Britain, PA, 05/10/06) – Madame
Nadia Yassine has successfully completed her visit
to the US from April 3 to April 22 where she presented
her new book Full
Sails Ahead, recently published in the US by
Justice and Spirituality Publishing.
The book tour had as main objectives to open avenues
of dialog, build bridges of understanding with the people
of the West, and clarify some misunderstandings about
Islam.
Nadia Yassine was invited to talk about the Mudawwana
(Moroccan Family Code) and a series of topics such as:
the Justice and Spirituality Association, Islam and
democracy, the rights of women in Islam, elections and
the political situation in Morocco, and her ongoing
trial for having voiced a preference for a republican
form of government over an autocratic regime.
Madame Yassine also gave interviews to researchers including
a postgraduate student, a faculty member, and a journalist.
The audience was impressed by the way Madame Yassine
presented her book and articulated her views about the
current challenges facing Morocco and the Muslim World.
They particularly appreciated her oratory skills and
sense of humor.
The following is a brief report on each of the four
stations of the book tour:
Dartmouth College, Hanover (State of New Hampshire)
On Thursday, April 6, Madame Yassine had a seminar at
the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding
in Dartmouth College. Madame Yassine responded to a
series of questions that included:
-Your movement is not officially recognized as a political
organization in Morocco. Still, you have a vision of
how the Moroccan society should change. What is this
vision, and what is to be changed?
-Why, in your judgment, did the Moroccan government
take the risk of bringing you before courts when the
result has been to enhance your public image?
- Many people find it easy to call you Islamist. What
do you call yourself?
Madame Yassine during the seminar at Dartmouth College
The seminar was followed by a dinner ceremony where Madame
Yassine was the guest of honor. The dinner was attended
by some faculty members and students who are interested
in Islam and the Middle East. Before the seminar, Madame
Yassine was given a campus tour. On the last day, she
visited the surrounding area to get an idea of life in
northern new England away from universities.
Harvard University, Cambridge (State of Massachusetts)
On Friday, April 14, the Islamic Legal Studies Program,
with the Moroccan Studies Program at Harvard's Center
for Middle Eastern Studies hosted Madame Nadia Yassine
along with discussants Professor Emad Shahin (American
University of Cairo) and Professor Ann Mayer (Wharton
School, University of Pennsylvania.)
The title of the talk was: “Legal
Reforms in Morocco: views of a Moroccan Feminist Dissident.”
The audience was made of faculty members, researchers,
students, and journalists. Much of the discussion was
focused on the Mudawwana and women’s rights in Islam.
The full text of Madame Yassine’s presentation may
be found at
A reception and book signing ceremony followed the discussion.
Madame Yassine then gave an interview to Kyle McEneaney,
a student researcher from the Center for Middle Eastern
Studies at Harvard University. The interview was mainly
about the Justice and Spirituality Association in Morocco.
Fordham University, New York City (State of New York)
On Tuesday, April 18, Madame Yassine presented
her book “Full Sails Ahead” at Fordham University
Law School. The event was hosted by the Middle East Studies
Program.
Besides asking Madame Yassine about her book, the audience,
made mostly of students, requested her opinion on other
matters such as Jihad, Ijtihad, and the relationship of
Islamists with the West.
The talk was followed by a book signing ceremony. At
the close of the ceremony, Professor John Entelis, renowned
for his works on Islam and democracy, offered in the
company of Father Patrick Ryan, Vice President of “Mission
and Ministry” at Fordham University, a dinner ceremony
in honor of Nadia Yassine.
Georgetown University, Washington DC
On Thursday, April 20, Madame Yassine gave another presentation
of her book “Full Sails Ahead” at the Prince
Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding.
The audience was made mostly of Moroccan students. A variety
of issues, political, social, as well as spiritual, were
raised during the talk.
The talk was followed by a book signing ceremony. Then,
Madame Yassine gave an two interview to a faculty member,
Dr. Margot Badran.
The book tour was organized by Justice and Spirituality
Publishing in collaboration with the aforementioned four
colleges and universities.
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