Theology, International Law, and Torture

Abstract

In the post-9/11 environment, the American Muslim community has finally realized that it can no longer keep the rest of American society at arm’s length while seeking to establish its own infrastructure and ensuring its continuity as a distinct community. One example of this community’s increased participation in American civil society is its new-found interest in interfaith dialogue. With such reasoning in mind, the Muslim community has partnered with various faith communities to create the National Religious Campaign against Torture (NRCAT), which was launched during the “Theology, International Law, and Torture: A Conference on Human Rights and Religious Commitment” conference sponsored by Princeton Theological Seminary, 13-15 January 2006, in Princeton, New Jersey. Religious leaders from across the nation, as well as Mohamed Elsanousi (director, Communication and Community Outreach, Islamic Society of North America [ISNA]) Mohammed Shafiq (executive director, Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue, Nazareth College, and imam, Islamic Center of Rochester); and Azhar Azeez (member, ISNA Executive Council and director, Islamic Association of Carrollton) as representatives of ISNA, worked together at this conference to build a powerful, spiritually based coalition. Over 160 eminent religious and academic figures, authors, journalists, retired government and military officers, human rights activists, and lawyers spoke ...