Ideas worth spreading

When people of Muslim heritage challenge fundamentalism

1,534,018 views |

Karima Bennoune |

TEDxExeter

• March 2014

Karima Bennoune shares four powerful stories of real people fighting against fundamentalism in their own communities — refusing to allow the faith they love to become a tool for crime, attacks and murder. These personal stories humanize one of the most overlooked human-rights struggles in the world.

Karima Bennoune shares four powerful stories of real people fighting against fundamentalism in their own communities — refusing to allow the faith they love to become a tool for crime, attacks and murder. These personal stories humanize one of the most overlooked human-rights struggles in the world.

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxExeter, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Connect with a movement to protect women who are victims of fundamentalism. Sign petitions, share campaigns and more.

About the speaker

Karima Bennoune

Karima Bennoune

Professor of international law

See speaker profile

Karima Bennoune's new book introduces the world to people who speak out against fundamentalist terrorism.

| Explore

Mahfoud Bennoune

This is a website I made for my father's writing, much of which is related to the topics I discuss in my talk.

| Explore

Secularism Is a Women's Issue

A wonderful resource for materials on fundamentalism.

| Explore

Institute for Peace and Secular Studies

A Pakistani organization. A photo of one of their demonstrations against blasphemy laws appears in my book.

| Explore

A great Pakistani women's group.

| Explore

Human Rights and Democracy for Iran

A wonderful Iranian rights group featured in the book but not in the talk for space reasons.

| Explore

Women Living Under Muslim Laws

WLUML brings together women across many regions to challenge fundamentalism and defend rights.

| Explore

Djazairouna Algerian Association of Victims of Islamist Terrorism French

President Cherifa Kheddar, whose brother and sister were assassinated in 1996 by the Armed Islamic Group, is featured in my book along with many other members of this brave group.

| Explore

Muslims for Progressive Values

A wonderful group that, among many other things, promotes LGBT rights.

| Explore

Women's Learning Partnership

Another terrific network of women's human rights defenders!

| Explore

The Centre for Secular Space

A very important space.

| Article

Algeria and Nigeria: Sharing the Deadweight of Human Mindlessness

Mahfoud Bennoune
Open Democracy, May 17, 2014

| Article

How Fundamentalism Produced a Terrorism without Precedent

Mahfoud Bennoune
El Watan, November 6, 1994

Karima Bennoune and Mbarka Brahmi | Open Democracy, July 25, 2014 | Article

Opposing Political Islam: Mohamed Brahmi's Widow Speaks Out

An interview I did with Mbarka Brahmi, the widow of slain Tunisian anti-fundamentalist Mohamed Brahmi, on the first anniversary of her husband's killing.

Association for Women's Rights in Development | Explore

Resisting and Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms

Karima Bennoune | The Huffington Post, December 9, 2014 | Article

An Open Letter to Malala in Oslo: Forward Together Against Fundamentalism

Ani Zonneveld | Open Democracy, December 8, 2014 | Article

Progressive Muslims in a World of ISIS and Islamophobes

Karima Bennoune | The Huffington Post, January 14, 2015 | Article

One Week After the Charlie Hebdo Attack

Learn more

About TEDx

TEDx was created in the spirit of TED's mission, "ideas worth spreading." It supports independent organizers who want to create a TED-like event in their own community.

Find a TEDx event near you

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxExeter, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Connect with a movement to protect women who are victims of fundamentalism. Sign petitions, share campaigns and more.