SHERIN KHANKAN
Born 1974. Lives in Rødovre, Denmark, and works nationally
 
Sherin Khankan works for greater religious freedom and equality in Denmark. In addition to being the co-founder and current Forewoman of Forum for Critical Muslims in Copenhagen, Denmark, she is also a frequent lecturer on the topics of Euro-Islam and integration. Khankan holds an MA in Sociology of Religion and Philosophy from the University of Copenhagen, specialized in Islam in Denmark and in the Middle East. She is also a member of the Danish party, Det Radikale Venstre. Khankan is a faithful Muslim and according to her, Islam is not a piece of jewelry you carry around your neck as a symbol. It is a personal conviction that you live by, based on respect and love for your fellow human beings. However, Islam will lose its justification if it does not develop in relation to the society we live in. Raised in Denmark in a family with a Christian, Finnish mother and a Muslim, Syrian father, she is the product of two different religions and cultures and has in practice seen and lived with the many similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam. Hence, it has always been a natural thing for Khankan to compromise and to be critical of her own way of managing and practicing her faith.
 
Contribution: Facilitator of the women's hearing “Take Off Your Veils, We Have Chosen Our Silicone Implants Ourselves!” on Saturday, October 16, 2004, from 3 – 7 pm in Station 1: The Equestrian Hall, Aarhus.