​HH Sheikha Moza speaks at opening of the University of Oxford Middle East Centre

Delivering a keynote speech at the opening of the Middle East Centre at St Antony’s College Oxford, designed by Zaha Hadid, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, offered a frank diagnosis of the current relationship between the Middle East and Europe.

She spoke about the growing “fear of real, living Muslims” in Europe. She contrasted this with Europe’s curiosity and “respect for the vast and rich architectural, philosophical and historical traditions” of Islam. She added that “Muslim-phobia” had devalued the lives of Muslims in Europe and America and highlighted a double standard in applying principles of free of speech, human rights and dignity: “Why do Muslim lives matter less than the lives of others? If they matter at all.” 

In addition, Her Highness raised the issue of the use of language in analysing the rise of militancy: “The word ‘medieval’ is appearing more and more to describe the actions of radicals. But why do we insinuate that somehow those who are perpetuating certain acts of violence do not belong to our age? That somehow they are not ‘modern’? It is a naïve refusal to accept our collective responsibility. ISIS is as modern as Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. They are all products of our age.”

Her Highness’s diagnosis was not only directed toward the growth of Muslim-phobia in Europe but also toward Muslim countries themselves who practice a type of “Islamophobia from within” by creating fear and suspicion of all things Islamic,” in order “to solidify the existing grip on power.” She connected this “Islamophobia from within” to the vestiges of colonisation and the suppression of the Arab spring: “It is evident that colonisation leaves behind deep material, political, cultural and psychological scars, and gaping wounds. Debate is needed. Violent repression is not. Could this be a reason why we, as Muslims, have lost confidence in our ability to apply the universal and eternal Islamic values to our living traditions?”

Finally, Her Highness presented a challenge to academics to reach out beyond academia and communicate their research more widely, in order to counteract the sensationalist narratives of mainstream media. Arguing that “academia should serve society, not only observe it and comment upon it,” she added that Muslims have a responsibility to demonstrate that “Islam is a rich, living moral tradition that can offer solutions to universal challenges.”

She gave the example of the work being conducted at the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies in the application of Islamic values and ethics to global problems. She advised young Muslims that “we should not only look back to history for the glory that was Islam but to the future and to the glory that is Islam. We should be inspired not only by historical values, but by eternal ones.” Her Highness’s keynote speech was attended by a number of dignitaries, academics and ambassadors. 

Qatar Foundation, via the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies at Education City in Doha, and Oxford University have a long history of collaboration and partnership which stretches back almost a decade. This collaboration has seen the annual exchange of professors and joint research and workshops. The collaboration also allows Qatari students, studying for their Masters in Middle Eastern Studies to spend up to a term at Oxford University.