CACR's second lecture of February 2024
Dr Usman Afzali delivered a public lecture titled 'Five Years after March 15'.
Dr Usman Afzali gave us a lecture on the evening of 26 February in Rutherford House, Pipitea campus, Victoria University of Wellington (VUW). This event was advertised to Muslim communities, so many Muslims attended the lecture as well as academic staff and post-graduate students at VUW.
Dr Usman Afzali is the principal investigator of the Muslim Diversity Study, currently working as a postdoctoral research fellow and lecturer at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. The Muslim Diversity Study examines the social attitudes and values of Muslims in New Zealand. His research interests encompass human flourishing, diversity in religious groups, cognitive psychology (specifically memory suppression), and contemplative neuroscience. In the Muslim Diversity Study, he leads a team of 25+ research assistants and actively collaborates with numerous partners within New Zealand. Read Usman’s website for more details.
The lecture began with Professor Joseph Bulbulia, the CACR director, introducing Dr Usman Afzali.
During the lecture, Dr Usman Afzali explored the impact of far-right terrorism on New Zealand’s Muslim community. Drawing from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study, he revealed the evolving public attitudes towards Muslims post-March 15. He discovered the role of national identity, media influence and the potential of religion to mitigate harm. He also discussed insights into the complex effects of extremism, informing future research and policy directions. Lastly, he emphasised the necessity for increased Muslim participation in the Muslim Diversity Study.