CSID Conference Highlights Urgent Need to Defend Democracy in the Muslim World

The Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID) held its 23rd Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., gathering prominent scholars, policymakers, and activists to discuss defending democracy in Muslim-majority countries amid rising authoritarianism. Dr. Radwan Masmoudi, CSID’s founder and president, opened the event by emphasising the urgency of supporting democratic movements, especially with youth and digital activism gaining momentum. Key speakers included Professor Asma Afsaruddin, Representative Joe Wilson, and experts like Nader Hashemi, Hassan Abbas, and Dalia Fahmy. The conference also featured virtual remarks by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, underlining the global relevance of democracy in today’s volatile landscape.

Here’s a summary of the CSID 23rd Annual Conference, “Defending Democracy in the Muslim World: Why Democracy is Crucial in the Age of Global Authoritarianism” (May 29, 2025, Washington, D.C.):

The event convened 120–150 leading scholars, policymakers, and advocates under the auspices of CSID, MPAC, and Georgetown’s ACMCU youtube.com+15cerisnet.org+15myemail.constantcontact.com+15. Dr. Radwan Masmoudi, CSID’s founder and president, opened the conference, emphasizing the rising threat of authoritarianism in Muslim-majority countries and the continued vitality of youth and digital activism csid-online.org+7linkedin.com+7csid-online.org+7.

Democracy

The day included diverse panels on religion’s role in democracy (moderated by Indiana University’s Prof. Asma Afsaruddin), the Syrian struggle (featuring U.S. Representative Joe Wilson), democratic transitions in Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Iraq, and Sri Lanka, and U.S. and international responses to democratic erosion—with speakers like Nader Hashemi (Georgetown), Hassan Abbas (NDU), Dalia Fahmy (LIU), and Abdullah Alaoudh (MEDC) myemail.constantcontact.com+1myemail.constantcontact.com+1.

Keynotes included Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim (via Zoom), and remarks from U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Chris Murphy were also anticipated x.com+3myemail.constantcontact.com+3myemail.constantcontact.com+3. Dr. Masmoudi concluded by urging stronger international engagement to uphold civil rights and democratic ideals.

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