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Wisconsin Public Radio

RETHINKING ISLAM

Program 07-03-25-A

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Tariq Ramadan has been called the Muslim Martin Luther King, and he's often described as Europe's most important Muslim intellectual. Hundreds of young Muslims turn up at his talks, and tapes of his lectures are widely circulated. He travels throughout the Islamic world, trying to build bridges between European Muslims and conservative clerics. But some countries, including the United States, have banned Ramadan. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we'll talk with Tariq Ramadan.

SEGMENT 1:

Tariq Ramadan has been called the Muslim Martin Luther King. The Swiss philosopher travels widely trying to build bridges between European Muslims and conservative clerics. His new book is "In the Footsteps of the Prophet." Ramadan tells Steve Paulson that Muhammad's life offers many lessons to contemporary muslims. You can read Steve's interview with Ramadan at Salon.com.

SEGMENT 2:

Salman Ahmad grew up in both Pakistan and the United States. Trained as an M.D., Ahmad has traded in his stethoscope for a guitar and performs with his group, Junoon. They've sold 25 million albums and are wildly popular in Asia. Ahmad is a devout Muslim and tells Anne Strainchamps that he sees nothing in his religion that forbids music, and explains why he thinks some clerics are so strict. And we hear some of his music.

SEGMENT 3:

Novelist Elif Shafak splits her time between Istanbul and Arizona. Her latest book is "The Bastard of Istanbul." She talks with Jim Fleming about the controversial concept of insulting Turkishness and the death of newspaper editor Hrant Dink, and the role of women in Turkish/Muslim society. Also, Ayaan Hirsi Ali may be the world's most famous critic of Islam. Born a Muslim, Hirsi Ali fled to the Netherlands where she eventually became a member of Parliament and the artistic collaborator of Dutch film-maker Theo Van Gogh. He was murdered by a Muslim fanatic. Hirsi Ali has written a book called "Infidel," and tells Steve Paulson why she believes Islam oppresses women and is irreconcilable with western democracy.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 07-03-25-A.

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Books:

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Infidel (Free Press)
Tariq Ramadan, In the Footsteps of the Prophet: Lessons from the Life of Muhammad (Oxford)
Elif Shafak, The Bastard of Istanbul: a novel (Viking)

Websites:

• Steve Paulson's Extended Interview with Tariq Ramadanon Salon.com
  http://www.salon.com/books/int/2007/02/20/ramadan/index.html

Music:

• After Return:
  Junooni w/ "Sagar"
  On "Infiniti"
  
• After Ramadan:
  Junooni w/ "Nachoon Gi"
  On "Infiniti"
  
• In Ahmad:
  "Ehtesaab"
  On "The Best of Junoon" (EMI):
  "Sayonee"
  "Saeein"
  "No More"
  On "Infiniti":
  "Ghoom Tana"
  
• After Shafak:
  Ibn Arabi Ensemble
  On "Under the Moroccan Sky"
  Sounds True
  
• After Hirsi Ali:
  "Lullaby"
  On "Darvish"
  Marigold Music Publishing
  
  

Distribution dates: week of 03/25/2007 - hour 1 click here for timings and cues

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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