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Nsar Hamid Abu Zayd, a professor of Islamic literature at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, traced the history of Islamic government in Egypt yesterday and spoke about the possibilities for secular states in the Islamic world -- a topic which is so unpopular in his own country he has gone into exile abroad.
Abu Zayd left Egypt after his works came under critical fire and it became too difficult to continue his work in his native country.
"This conference could not happen in Cairo," Abu Zayd said.
In his speech Abu Zayd spoke on Egyptian transition in the context of its own history and interaction with Europe.
There are two factions in the Islamic world each with differing views on Islam -- one claiming that Islam is an alterable, changing religion, capable of adapting to a more modern, secular era, the other saying it is based on permanent principles and cannot change.
The problems exist with the interpretation of the Qur'an itself, and the argument of whether the Qur'an was created by man or not, Abu Zayd said.
If the Qur'an was created, then it could be interpreted with human rules, as those who wished for a more secular state would believe.