This event was part of a series of lunchtime discussions for students and the public on Islamic law by faculty with research and clinical orientations.
In its series of lunch-time talks, ILSP: SHARIAsource recently hosted noted civil rights scholar and attorney Amna Akbar, Assistant Professor of Law at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. She spoke to over 30 students and other attendees on research findings that emerged from her study of counter-radicalization efforts by U.S. law enforcement of Muslims—often thought to be drawing on false notions of violent acts in Islamic law that require intervention to prevent. Drawing on her clinical practice, Professor Akbar highlighted the impact that government counter-radicalization efforts have on social cohesion and community-building in Muslim communities. She also situated activities implemented by Obama-administration policies on policing in Black and other marginalized communities. The event was co-sponsored by the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law School.