A two-day forum entitled “Islamists and the Arab revolutions: challenges of democratic transition and state re-building” got underway here today with the participation of a host of top Islamist leaders, intellectuals, political activists as well as experts and researchers from around the Arab world. Organized by Aljazeera Center for Studies, the conference will address topics including: Islamists and the Arab revolutions; Issues of citizenship and political rights; Challenges of democratic transition; Islamists and the modern state; Issues of foreign relations; and Islamists and economic options. HE Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aljazeera Network Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, in an opening speech, said that the forum reflected the Network’s desire to provide platforms for dialogue and flow of ideas to ensure a deeper understanding of events taking place in several Arab countries in term of the remarkable rise of Islamists both at the opposition and the political participation levels.