To the Best of Our Knowledge

PROMO       3/25/07 "Re-Thinking Islam"
*Tariq Ramadan (TAIR-ik RAHM-uh-don) 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.

PROGRAM RUNDOWN:   "Re-Thinking Islam"

0:01 - 16:12        SEGMENT 1: (16:13)
            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.
                    
            Segment One Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

16:13 - 16:42  LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

16:43 - 29:42       SEGMENT 2: (13:01)
            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 Two Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

29:43 - 30:12       LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

30:13 - 53:00       SEGMENT 3: (22:47)
            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. 
                    
            Segment Three Outcue: PRI Audio Logo


For a copy of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
3-25-A.