Dr Gianluca Parolin from the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations at the Aga Khan University spoke at the Ismaili Centre, Toronto on Thursday, 24 November 2016. He offered a reading into one of the most heated debates in contemporary politics from Morocco to Indonesia: The role of sharia in constitutions. He argued that design considerations are significantly more important than the actual content of the sharia provisions, which in contrast, often absorbs the domestic debate. The case study that he used to illuminate these debates and illustrate this point is the Egyptian experience with the first post-2011 constitution.

Gianluca Parolin is an Associate Professor at AKU-ISMC with a specialism of Comparative Law. He holds a PhD in Public Law from the University of Torino and previously worked in the Department of Law at the American University Cairo. Since 2011, he has actively contributed to the debate on the constitution drafting in Egypt.

Based in London, the Aga Khan University's Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations aims to strengthen research and teaching about the heritage of Muslim societies, with specific attention to the challenges these societies face in contemporary settings. The Institute provides a multifaceted approach to the study of Muslim peoples, exploring the diverse histories of Muslim societies, as well as new paths and possibilities in a time of change, challenge and opportunity.