Hamed Abdel-Samad, one of the leading Western religious critics and prominent intellectual voice in the Arab world through his YouTube channel, presents his new book "With God On Their Side. Die unheilvolle Allianz von Politik und Religion" (With God On Their Side. The Sinister Alliance of Politics and Religion).

In this book premiere and discussion, Abdel-Samad examines the troubling global trend of authoritarian regimes aligning with fundamentalist movements. From Putin's Russia bolstered by the Russian Orthodox Church to the surprising support orthodoxy provides to Netanyahu in Israel, from China's use of Confucianism to secure Xi Jinping's power to the right-wing populism gaining ground across Europe — the separation of power and religion, that cornerstone of Enlightenment thinking, appears to be in retreat.

Born in 1972 near Cairo, Abdel-Samad has lived under permanent police protection since a fatwa was issued against him in 2013. Now a guest professor at Keio University's Faculty of Law in Tokyo, his books consistently become bestsellers and generate significant cultural conversation.

The event is a collaboration between Heimathafen Neukölln, Literatur LIVE, dtv Verlagsgesellschaft, and Thalia Buchhandlung.

Event Details: Seating arranged / Free seating (Saal) / Doors open 19:00 / Duration: 90 minutes without intermission

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