The event, entitled ‘Should we talk to terrorists?’, which is taking place at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry from 5pm on Wednesday 8 April is the latest in The Big Question seminar series run by Coventry University’s Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations. The debate is open to the public and is free to attend.

Intended to provide a vibrant public forum for discussing the economic, political and social challenges facing contemporary British society, The Big Question seminars kicked off in February with a thought-provoking discussion about building communities of trust and peace led by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

With recent highly publicised atrocities from the Paris attacks and the release of graphic images of hostage murders by Islamic State intensifying fear and outrage across the world, the forthcoming debate in April brings into sharp focus the controversial idea of engaging in dialogue with those who threaten or use violence to secure advances for their political and ideological ends.

Among the panelists are a former member of the German far-left militant group Red Army Faction (commonly known in its early stages as the Baader-Meinhof Gang) and the founder of the not-for-profit Building Bridges for Peace group Jo Berry, whose father Sir Anthony Berry was amongst those killed in the IRA bombing of the Grand Hotel, Brighton in 1984. The event will be chaired by Professor Kurt Barling, Professor of journalism at Middlesex University and previously a leading broadcaster for the BBC.

Commenting on what promises to be a stimulating discussion Professor Mike Hardy, director of Coventry University’s Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, said: “When people are killed and lives threatened there is often a demand for forceful reprisals and military intervention against the perpetrators. This is commonly associated with a refusal to talk to those responsible, as it is assumed that engaging in dialogue will only legitimise these groups and their tactics.

“We are pleased to be working with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue on this event and are looking forward to what we believe will be a very interesting debate around the highly contentious issue of negotiating with those engaged in terrorist activity.”

Math Noortman, professor in transnational law and non-state actors at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations said: “’Talking to terrorists’ is not about negotiations or moral righteousness, nor is it about empathy or denying criminal accountability. It is about taking another approach to understanding terrorism. It is perhaps more about talking with terrorists than talking to terrorists. If there is virtue in dialogue, that virtue cannot be qualified.”

Ross Frenett who manages the Against Violent Extremism (AVE) network at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue said: “Over the years the Institute for Strategic Dialogue has worked with hundreds of former terrorists from around the world. One of the most striking aspects of this engagement is just how normal these people are. Terrorists and extremists of all kinds don’t shed their humanity when they take up arms. Recognising that and facilitating dialogue between former terrorists and others gives us the best chance of better understanding why people get involved in these activities and in turn prevent others from doing so.”

The Big Question debate, entitled ‘Should we talk to terrorists?’ takes place from 5pm at The Studio, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry CV1 5QP on Wednesday 8th April 2015. The debate is free to attend but places must be booked in advance. The event will be followed by a drinks reception where there will be an opportunity to speak informally with the panelists and others attending the event.