Anwar Ibrahim speaks on Islam and democracy in Malaysia

On November 20, the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL), in partnership with the Muslim Student Awareness Network and Stanford in Government, welcomed Malaysian Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. CDDRL Director Larry Diamond, FSI Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow Francis Fukuyama and Shorenstein APARC’s Donald Emmerson joined the politician for a lively discussion on democracy’s compatibility with Islam.

Stanford was one of several universities on Ibrahim’s speaking tour in the United States. His visit attracted an audience of over 200, drawing university students and members of the Bay Area Malaysian community.

Since the 1980s, Ibrahim has been recognized as a rising figure and ardent supporter of freedom and democracy in Malaysia, serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister from 1993 to 1998. He now leads Malaysia’s Pakatan Rakyat, an informal political coalition that works in opposition to the ruling party.