In this special lecture by the Egyptian Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Dr Hassan El-Laithy will talk about the so-called Arab Spring movement, why the region is so volatile, discuss the issues facing his country as well as factors related to other countries in the region.
Faith and Politics: Egypt in Transition
Hosted by Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shankarananda
Special guest lecture by His Excellency Dr Hassan El-Laithy, Egyptian Ambassador to Australia
Thursday March 27, 2014
7:30pm
Even in the darkest of days, there is light. On the 25 January 2011, the world watched as Egypt, one of the world’s oldest and culturally and spiritually richest civilizations, saw Hosni Mubarak its president of 30 years ousted by the popular demands of the Egyptian people. The light of hope for a better Egypt was shared by 90 million Egyptians young, old, men, women, Coptic Christians and Muslims alike across the country in one unified voice, calling for “Bread, Freedom & Social Justice”: the so-called democracy project had begun.
But what followed has been a fractured and deeply painful transition between the forces of faith and politics, of light and dark, the pained and the privileged, the faithful and the faithless. For a country in the midst of social, political and economic upheaval and threats and acts of terrorism, in the midst of what has been called the Arab Spring, can faith and politics co-exist and help to shape the future of a new, democratic Egypt?
His Excellency Dr Hassan El Laithy, Egyptian Ambassador to Australia, believes that even in the midst of such darkness, through a dedicated connection to the oneness of God, having faith that there is always light and with a genuine commitment to peace and progress, a new Egypt will emerge.
Ambassador El Laithy will talk about the so-called Arab Spring movement, why the region is so volatile, discuss the issues facing his country as factors related to other countries in the region. He will also share his heartfelt views on why staying connected to the oneness of God, particularly when transitioning from suffering to a brighter future is, the ultimate source of freedom.
In this special presentation by the Egyptian Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Dr El Laithy will also discuss, the role of interfaith in Islam, Islam and modernity, fundamentalism extremism and faith and the five rituals of Islam.
Swami Shankarananda will host the program and share his thoughts on Interfaith.
His Excellency Dr Hassan El-Laithy
Ambassador of Egypt
Dr El-Laithy trained as a medical doctor at Al Azhar University in Cairo where he also graduated in Islamic theology. He subsequently joined the Egyptian Diplomatic Corp, graduating from the Egyptian Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His diplomatic career includes postings to Abu Dhabi, Libya, Germany, Nigeria, Namibia, Austria and Croatia. Between 2007 and 2010, Dr El-Laithy served as the first Egyptian ambassador to the Slovak Republic. Subsequently he was appointed Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs and Strategic and Security Organisations in Europe.
Ambassador El-Laithy has extended experience in the area of the relationship between democratic transition, economic progress, structural reform, capacity building and governmental and private sector partnerships, and has participated in many international fora including the Bled Strategic Forum. He has a particular interest in inter-religious relations and dialogue and the role of inter-religious dialogue in increasing social understanding, social enfranchisement and social equity.
In 2012, Dr El-Laithy was appointed Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Australia (Resident) and non-Resident Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa and the Marshall Islands.
What: Shiva Yoga Interfaith Lecture 2014
When: Thursday March 27, 2014 7:30pm
Where: Shiva Ashram, 27 Tower Road Mount Eliza, VIC 3930
Cost: Free
More information: http://www.shivayoga.org.au/programs/interfaith/2014-lecture/
