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.<ref name=LI>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9q0y21B9BoUC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=Institute+for+the+Secularisation+of+Islamic+Society&source=bl&ots=_Smf9Q1bHx&sig=bEBeYelk_dfC0K8RP17PZZrr358&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TZPeUvnKMqipsQTPpICgBQ&ved=0CEIQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=Institute%20for%20the%20Secularisation%20of%20Islamic%20Society&f=false|title=Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out|editor=[[Ibn Warraq]]|year=2003|publisher=Prometheus Books|isbn=978-1591020684}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3CpLB-6qlY0C&pg=PA407&dq=%22Institute+for+the+Secularisation+of+Islamic+Society%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=L4d6U_3dEdSwsQS59YGAAw&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Institute%20for%20the%20Secularisation%20of%20Islamic%20Society%22&f=false|title=Faith in Faithlessness: An Anthology of Atheism|author=[[Dimitrios Roussopoulos]]|year=2007|isbn=978-1551643120|page=407}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tqM3UiM5VbcC&pg=PA26&dq=%22Institute+for+the+Secularisation+of+Islamic+Society%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=L4d6U_3dEdSwsQS59YGAAw&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22Institute%20for%20the%20Secularisation%20of%20Islamic%20Society%22&f=false|title=God Caesar and the Freedom of Religion|author=[[Elizabeth Warren]]|year=2003|isbn=978-1410748904}}</ref> It is part of the [[Center for Inquiry]].

Founded in 1998 by former Muslims, the best known being [[Ibn Warraq]],<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.meforum.org/2069/defending-the-west|title=Defending the West|volume=XVI|issue=1|date=Winter 2009|author=A.J. Caschetta|journal=Middle East Quarterly|pages=77–79|access-date=2012-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509010107/http://www.meforum.org/2069/defending-the-west|archive-date=2012-05-09|dead-url=no|df=}}</ref> 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]].

==Secular Islam Summit==

{{main|Secular Islam Summit}}

'''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.<ref name=usnews070408>{{citation|url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070408/16muslims_2.htm |date=April 8, 2007 |author=Jay Tolson |publisher=U.S. News & World Report |title=Fighting for the soul of Islam |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008090112/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070408/16muslims_2.htm |archivedate=October 8, 2012 |df= }}</ref> 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.<ref name=usnews070408/><ref name=declaration>{{cite web |url=http://www.centerforinquiry.net/isis/news/the_st_petersburg_declaration/ |title=The St. Petersburg Declaration |publisher=Centerforinquiry.net |date=2007-04-05 |accessdate=2012-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104113243/http://www.centerforinquiry.net/isis/news/the_st_petersburg_declaration/ |archive-date=2012-01-04 |dead-url=no |df= }}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Criticism of Islam]]

[[Category:Liberal and progressive movements within Islam]]

[[Category:Islam and secularism]]

[[Category:Skeptic organizations in the United States]]

{{nonprofit-org-stub}}