MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
April 4, 2007
(Toronto) - Should the law require proof of religious or political motive in terrorism trials? Should the law allow such evidence to be introduced? Are terrorism trials inevitably political and religious?
These are just a few of the crucial questions that will be explored in the next "Law, Religion and Society" series at the U of T Faculty of Law on April 10, 2007. Law professors Kent Roach and Anver Emon will discuss "Litigating Religion in the Courtroom: Judicial Limits, Conceptual Restraints."
Prof. Kent Roach will begin the session with a discussion of the 2006 Ontario Superior Court decision R. v. Khawaja in which the judge struck down a section of the Criminal Code that made "religious motive" an element for defining terrorist activity. The audience will be invited to discuss what "religious motive" means, how it can be proved, and the ways in which proving religious belief or motive raises important questions about the strengths and limits of the law and the judicial function.
"One of the goals of the Law, Religion, and Society series is to create a venue where issues that are often sensationalized in the media can be addressed with a sophisticated and respectful level of critical inquiry," says Prof. Anver Emon. "This session will provide an opportunity for the discussion of tough issues facing our society in the spirit of learning, discovery, and dialogue."
The Law Religion and Society series was launched in 2006 in response to growing public awareness about religion and its influence on modern society. In order to increase accessibility to a wider public audience this discussion will be broadcast live on the web. Click here after 7 pm on April 10th to view the webcast.
Who: Prof. Kent Roach and Prof. Anver Emon
What: Litigating Religion in the Courtroom: Judicial Limits, Conceptual Restraints
When: April 10, 2007; 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Where: Faculty Lounge, Flavelle House, Faculty of Law, 78 Queen's Park
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Jane Kidner, Assistant Dean, External Relations, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto
(416) 978-6702 or j.kidner@utoronto.ca
