South Asia Consortium for Religion and Law Studies (SACRALS) Established in India
At a meeting of international religious scholars in New Delhi in January 2017 a new entity was launched, an academic, apolitical and non-governmental regional association to be known as the South Asia Consortium for Religion and Law Studies [SACRALS]. with Professor Tahir Mahmood as its first president. Professor Brett Scharffs and Professor Cole Durham, the Director and Founding Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS) at Brigham Young University, along with members of the Center’s International Advisory Council, attended the launch.
Religion and Law Studies – encompassing theoretical and empirical studies and research on the relationship between state, law, and religion in a human rights perspective – is a fast-growing academic discipline being pursued in many leading universities across the globe. The International Center for Religion…
Peace, Stability, and Sustainable Development: The Role of Religion, 13-15 January 2017
The conference “Peace, Stability, and Sustainable Development: The Role of Religion” took place in Hyderabad, India from 13-15 January 2017. The conference was co-sponsored by the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University of Law, India; the International Center for Law and Religion Studies of Brigham Young University Law School, United States; and King and Diane Husein.
The opening session featured an inaugural address by Neera Chandhoke, Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi, New Delhi, and speakers Ján Figel’, Special Envoy for Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) outside the European Union, European Commission, Slovakia; and W. Cole Durham, Jr., Susa Young Gates University Professor and Founding…
Conference in India: Constitutional Parameters of Individual Freedom, November 2014
Amity University India Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University USA co-sponsored an International Symposium, “Constitutional Parameters of Individual Freedom: Secularity, Public Interest & Social Reform”, 8-10 November 2014 at the Hotel Taj Mahal in New Delhi.
The event opened on Saturday, November 8, with high-tea and the launch of a new book by Professor Tahir Mahmood, Reminiscing on Law Brains: Bench Bar and Academia.
Speaking at the conference were international experts in the field of Law and Religion, among them Professors Tahir Mahmood (India), Asher Maoz (Israel), Tore Lindholm (Norway), Bilal Açıkgöz (Turkey), W. Cole Durham, Jr., and Paul Evensen (United States), and Carmen Asiaín Pereira (Uruguay), Judge Clifford Wallace (US) and Justice DM Dharmadhikari (India), Justice Jaspal Singh (India), Dr Manoj Sinha (Director, Indian Law Institute), Dr Kiran Gupta (Professor of Law, Delhi University), Dr MP Raju (Advocate), Dr Rakesh Gosain (Advocate), Dr AK Merchant (Baha’i Scholar), and Dr SK Pachauri (Amity University).
Othe guests included Justice Naima Haider (Bangladesh), Justice Dharmadhikari (former Judge, Supreme Court India), Justice Ranjana Desai (former Judge, Supreme Court India), Justice Jaspal Singh (former Judge, Delhi High Court), Justice BA Khan (former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court), Justice Manju Goel (former Judge, Delhi High Court), Mr Amarjit Singh Chandhiok (Advocate General, European Commission ), Mr Bishwajit Bhattacharyya (former Additional Solicitor General), Mr Rakesh Munjal (Senior Advocate & Vice-President, Indian Law Institute), Mr Anil Sapra (Senior Advocate), Mr Joy Basu (Senior Advocate),Mr Pavan Narang (Advocate), and Mr Sumant De (Advocate).
Center Represented at India Religion and Governance Conference, 9-10 May 2011
Professors Cole Durham and Brett Scharffs, Director and Associate Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, along with Marshall Morrise, the Center’s Website Development Manager, traveled to India to participate with the Center’s honored friend and advisor, Professor Dr. Tahir Mahmood, and other internationally renowned religious freedom scholars in the conference “Religion and Governance in a Secular State,” co-sponsored by the Center and the Amity Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and held 9-10 May 2011 at the Amity Campus, Sector – 125 in Noida.
Participants were welcomed by Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Group, who said that Amity would like to…
“Religion, Law and Governance in Southeast Asia: Comparative Legal Perspectives” – Kuala Lumpur, 29-31 January 2010
Representatives from the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at BYU, including International Advisory Council Chair Duane Madsen, ICLRS Historian Erlyn Madsen, IAC member Linda Nearon, and ICLRS Managing Director Robert T. Smith, participated in a very successful conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during 29-31 January 2010. Addressing “Religion, Law and Governance in Southeast Asia: Comparative Legal Perspectives,” the conference was co-sponsored by the Center in cooperation with the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS), the Faculty of Law of the University of Malaysia, and the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies of Amity University (India). The conference Keynote Address by YAB Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak was delivered…