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Past Debates: Series 6

Monday, February 15 2010
This House believes Muslims aren't getting a fair deal in India

The Doha Debates was held for the first time in Asia at St Stephen’s College, one of India’s most prestigious university campuses.

With a strong history of debating, the university was a fitting venue to host the debates and the college’s active debating society was instrumental in ensuring a large audience for the event, which was attended by more than 300 people.

Seema Mustafa, Journalist and political commentator FOR
Sachin Pilot, Minister of State for Communications and IT AGAINST
Teesta Setalvad, Civil rights activist FOR
M.J. Akbar, Journalist and author AGAINST

A group of 10 high school and university students from Doha travelled to India to participate in the debate and get a taste of student life in New Delhi. They met various members of the College’s faculty, politicians and prominent Indian journalists and took in a few of the capital’s most famous sights.

MOTION REJECTED by 38% to 62%
Broadcast: 20-21 February, 2010
Venue: St. Stephen's College, Delhi
This House believes Muslims aren't getting a fair deal in India
Tuesday, January 12 2010
This House believes this Afghan government is not worth fighting for
Peter Galbraith, Former Deputy UN Envoy to Afghanistan FOR
Shukria Barakzai, Afghan Member of Parliament AGAINST
Mirwais Yasini, Deputy Speaker of Afghanistan's Lower House of Parliament FOR
Lawrence Korb, Senior US defense adviser AGAINST
MOTION PASSED by 51% to 49%
Broadcast: 23-24 January, 2010
This House believes this Afghan government is not worth fighting for
Monday, December 14 2009
This House believes Dubai is a bad idea
Simon Jenkins, British journalist and author FOR
Nasser bin Ghaith, Emirati economist AGAINST
Sharla Musabih, Human rights activist FOR
Mishal Kanoo, Emirati businessman AGAINST
MOTION REJECTED by 38% to 62%
Broadcast: 9-10 January, 2010
This House believes Dubai is a bad idea
Monday, November 09 2009
This House trusts Iran NOT to build a nuclear bomb
Mahjoob Zweiri, Professor of Middle East Politics and Iran, University of Jordan FOR
Baria Alamuddin, Foreign editor of Al-Hayat newspaper AGAINST
Mohammad Marandi, Head of the North American Studies,University of Tehran FOR
Alireza Nourizadeh, Director, Centre for Arab and Iranian Studies AGAINST
MOTION REJECTED by 48% to 52%
Broadcast: 14-15 November, 2009
This House trusts Iran NOT to build a nuclear bomb
Monday, October 12 2009
This House deplores the release of the Lockerbie bomber to Libya
Daniel Kawczynski, British politician FOR
Mustafa Fetouri, Libyan academic and writer AGAINST
Guma El-Gamaty, Libyan researcher and writer FOR
Jim Swire, Father of a Lockerbie victim AGAINST
MOTION PASSED by 53% to 47%
Broadcast: 24-25 October, 2009
This House deplores the release of the Lockerbie bomber to Libya