Your fatwa does not apply here | Karima Bennoune | TEDxExeter

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. One day, Karima Bennoune found herself wondering whether she could protect her father with a paring knife. She tells the stories of individual Muslims struggling against fundamentalism and terrorism.
Karima Bennoune is a professor of international law at the University of California--Davis School of Law. She grew up in Algeria and the United States and now lives in northern California.
She has published widely in many leading academic journals, as well as in the Guardian, The New York Times, Comment is Free, the website of Al Jazeera English, The Nation. The topic of her most recent publication 'Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here' is a very personal one for her. Her father Mahfoud Bennoune was an outspoken professor at the University of Algiers, and faced death threats during the 1990s, but continued speaking out against fundamentalism and terrorism. In writing this book, Karima set out to meet people who are today doing what her father did back then, to try to garner for them greater international support than Algerian democrats received during the 1990s.
She has served as a member of the Executive Council of the American Society of International Law and on the board of directors of Amnesty International USA. Currently, she sits on the Board of the Network of Women Living Under Muslim Laws. She has also been a consultant on human rights issues for the International Council on Human Rights Policy, the Soros Foundation, the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, and for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Her human rights field missions have included Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Fiji, Lebanon, Pakistan, South Korea, southern Thailand, and Tunisia.
She traveled to Algeria in February 2011 to serve as an observer at pro-democracy protests with the support of the Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights, writing a series of articles about these events for the Guardian. In October 2011, she volunteered as an election observer during the Tunisian constituent assembly elections with Gender Concerns International.
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Video Production Chromatrope (chromatrope.co.uk/)
Production Manager Andy Robertson ( / familygamertv )
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[@rm9308]

Her dad was a real man. It was his job to prevent fundamentalism from ruining his daughter's life and he succeeded.

[@laika5757]

God bless you Karima...200% support from India.

[@lamond57]

Thank you our sisters from everywhere around our lovely planet, I am so honored to hear your stories and bless you all with Grace and Love!

[@Raz233.]

Thank you for sharing these stories of hope and courage. we are struggling and hopefully one day peace will come to our lands.

[@orphandefiler4472]

I was in the special forces of Algeria during that I understand it was truly horrific time for my beloved country I cheated death countless times i and saw my family slaughtered in front of me my son before they cut his through the axe in my 9 months pregnant wife's head it was a time when you wouldn't care anymore. I thank God that little daughter is alive she's a doctor I love her and I will protect her against anything

[@MrsEleonora8]

One of the best speeches I have heard on TED. Thank You, dear Karima, for sharing this stories with all of us.

[@robertpinto7167]

Truly inspirational.

[@tommasocanepa587]

Thank you Karima Bennoune. This is so important for all.

[@Ronakalin70]

Great, gracious and True speech !! Thank you Karima Bennoune

[@Tahmidur]

One of the best TED talk ever!

[@matth3002]

Thugs hiding behind a religion/badge/nation, etc.

[@GoddessLaurel]

Thank you, this has been very eye opening. I send love and encouragement to all who seek freedom, peace and acceptance.

[@wenjingsaf]

Any one who does their homework knows exactly what kind of religion it is, and how these terrorist groups just use its name to justify their means and reach their ultimate goal, full control, doesn't matter what religion, race, period of time, country, religion, history ALWAYS repeats itself. i don't stand for anything except humanity.

[@shakirrehman3606]

i am from Pakistan and by the help of God pak army has took down tehrik e taliban pakistan almost completely by now, now we fell much safer then few years before alhamdulliallah

[@vladmah806]

Finally someone who represents normal Muslims

[@LWC8]

I appreciated her speech but can't help feeling she is addressing the wrong audience.

[@freeelectron8261]

Thanks you for your brilliant talk

[@camimons470]

This was a very good talk.

[@Troll-qe1st]

Such an orator. So densely packed speech.

[@gjwagner1856]

Brave lady. Speaking up and challenging these violent elements.