MALAYSIA-FRANCE-ECONOMY-ISLAM

A logo of Bank Islam Malaysia is seen at the bank’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on November 12, 2008. Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that the global economic crisis presents an opportunity for Islamic banking to show it is a viable alternative to conventional finance. Badawi said the meltdown showed the need for laws enshrined in Islamic banking, which prohibits speculation and high levels of debt, and which has so far been relatively unscathed by the credit crunch. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)