“Muslims in Australia: History, Successes, Challenges and Opportunities”

Business Building 903, Beirut campus

The Australian Embassy in Beirut, in partnership with the LAU’s Institute for Migration Studies, cordially invites you to a lecture by Egyptian-Australian scholar Waleed Aly entitled “Muslims in Australia: History, Successes, Challenges and Opportunities”. Aly will also touch on the relationship between Islam and the West, as well as the future of political Islam, particularly in the context of the Arab Spring.  

Aly is one of the most prominent public intellectuals in Australia, and arguably the most well-regarded Muslim voice in the country. He was on the board of the Islamic Council of Victoria between 2003 and 2007, where he led the Council’s public affairs operations.  He has been named as one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world.  Aly’s debut book, People Like Us: How Arrogance is Dividing Islam and the West, was shortlisted for several awards.  In 2005, he was made a White Ribbon Day Ambassador for the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and was named one of The Bulletin’s ‘Smart 100’ in 2007.  In 2011, Aly was awarded the title of Victoria’s Local Hero, as part of the Australian of the Year Awards.  He was born in Australia; his family is of Egyptian descent.