Mustafa Akyol: Faith versus tradition in Islam

The speaker shares insights from a visit to Mecca, highlighting the lack of gender separation at the Kaaba compared to the rest of Saudi Arabia. The talk explores how cultural practices have influenced Islamic traditions, often leading to misconceptions about Islam. The speaker discusses the authoritarian political culture in the Middle East and the potential for Islamic modernism to foster democracy and liberty. Turkey's democratic experience is presented as a model, and the Arab Spring is seen as a promising sign for the future of Islam and democracy.

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