Press release from Business Wire India
Source: The Doha Debates
Friday, February 12, 2010 07:43 PM IST (02:13 PM GMT)
Editors: General: Arts & culture, Law & justice, People, Politics, Social issues; Business: Media & entertainment
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Doha Debates at St. Stephen's College, Delhi
This House believes Muslims are not getting a fair deal in India
New Delhi, Delhi, India, Friday, February 12, 2010 -- (Business Wire India) -- The Doha Debates, the Arab world's only free speech forum, are to spotlight India's Muslim minority in a high-profile session, to be broadcast globally on BBC World News. The motion 'This House believes Muslims are not getting a fair deal in India" will be debated at St Stephen's College on Monday February 15.
Debates' Chairman Tim Sebastian said the subject had provoked considerable controversy within India and he was anxious to see the different arguments brought before an international audience.
"How does a democracy the size of India deal with its Muslim minority and are their rights effectively safeguarded? Who's to blame if they under-perform? What lessons can the rest of the world draw from India's experience? Those are just some of the questions I hope we'll see answered in what I believe will be a lively and important debate."
Speaking for the motion is Seema Mustafa, the Editor of Covert magazine. She has authored a number of books on Indian politics and in 1999 received the prestigious Prem Bhatia Award for Excellence in Political Reporting and Analysis for her coverage of the Kargil war.
With her is Teesta Setalvad, Civil rights activist and the co-founder of Sabrang Communications, an organisation aimed at protecting and promoting human rights in India. She has been at the forefront of the campaign for justice for the victims of the Gujarat riots and in 2003 she won the Nuremberg International Human Rights Award. In 2007 she was awarded the prestigious civilian honour, the Padma Shri by the Indian Government for her work in public affairs.
Against them: M.J.Akbar, distinguished journalist and Chairman and Director of Publications of Covert Magazine. He has launched and edited several publications in India including a new weekly publication The Sunday Guardian and served as a member of India's Parliament from 1989-1992.
He is joined by the Honourable, Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Mr. Sachin Pilot. Mr Pilot made history in 2004 by becoming the youngest Member of Parliament when he was elected in Dausa, Rajasthan. He won by a record margin of over 120,000 votes.
The trip to St. Stephen's College, one of India's top-rated educational institutions, is a sign of the unique status of The Doha Debates as the leading forum for free speech in the Arab and Muslim worlds.
About the Doha Debates:
The Doha Debates are a unique forum for free speech in the Arab world. Chaired by Tim Sebastian, the internationally renowned award-winning broadcaster, the series has been broadcast on BBC World News since January 2005. BBC World News reaches nearly 300 million people in more than 200 countries.
The Doha Debates are hosted and funded by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. The Foundation is a private chartered organization committed to the belief that a nation's true wealth is in the potential of its people. Chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al Missned, the wife of the Emir, it seeks to develop that potential through a network of centres devoted to education, public health and research.
CONTACT DETAILS
Patrick Forbes, 9560636143, patrick@forbes-associates.com
Bhavya Suri, Perfect Relations, +919871301008
Dhruv Choudary, Perfect Relations, 9650764588
KEYWORDS
ARTS, LAW, PEOPLE, POLITICS, SOCIAL, MEDIA
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