Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society
The Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society is an organization of writers that promotes the ideas of secularism, democracy and human rights within Islamic society. It is part of the Center for Inquiry.
Founded in 1998 by former Muslims, the best known being Ibn Warraq, the group aims to combat theologically driven fanaticism, violence and terrorism. The organization does not promote any belief system or religious dogma but rather it subscribes to the rule of secular law, freedom of speech and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.The Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society's Center for Inquiry sponsored a summit on 4–5 March 2007 in St. Petersburg, Florida to reaffirm secular humanist values for Muslim societies. In attendance were Ibn Warraq, Irshad Manji, Wafa Sultan, and Hasan Mahmud. The summit produced the St. Petersburg Declaration, calling for the separation of mosque and state, protection for all religions, equality between men and women, and unrestricted critical study of Islam.
