The international conference, jointly hosted by the ISIM and the Research Centre Religion and Society (ASSR), on 'Religion, Media and the Public Sphere' was held from 6 to 8 December 2001 at the... Show moreThe international conference, jointly hosted by the ISIM and the Research Centre Religion and Society (ASSR), on 'Religion, Media and the Public Sphere' was held from 6 to 8 December 2001 at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The theme of the conference evolved out of three prominent debates in the 1990s: the crisis of the post-colonial nationstate, the increasing global proliferation of electronic media, and the rise of religious movements. Show less
From 26 to 28 October 2001, the ISIM, in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam and Cornell University, held an international conference in Leiden on the 'Application of Islamic Law in... Show moreFrom 26 to 28 October 2001, the ISIM, in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam and Cornell University, held an international conference in Leiden on the 'Application of Islamic Law in Courts'. The conference conveners, Muhammad Khalid Masud, Rudolph Peters and David Powers, invited historians, lawyers, anthropologists and sociologists to come to Leiden to engage in a discussion on the manner in which Islamic legal doctrine (fiqh) has manifested itself in daily practice as reflected in the activity of the qadi, or Muslim judge. Show less
The ISIM workshop on 'Islam, Women's Rights, and Islamic Feminism: Making Connections between Different Perspectives' (9-11 November 2001) took place under the shadow of the looming confrontation... Show moreThe ISIM workshop on 'Islam, Women's Rights, and Islamic Feminism: Making Connections between Different Perspectives' (9-11 November 2001) took place under the shadow of the looming confrontation between the West and the Muslim world, at a time when public interest was focused on the American offensive in Afghanistan and anti-American responses in countries as diverse as Pakistan, Egypt and Indonesia. Most of the participants felt that precisely at this time one should not allow the agenda of intellectual debate to be completely determined by political issues and that the workshop should take place as planned. Show less
On 28 and 29 October 2002, the conference 'Political Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa: Narratives, Itineraries and Networks' was organized by the research institute SEDET (Societes en developpement dans... Show moreOn 28 and 29 October 2002, the conference 'Political Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa: Narratives, Itineraries and Networks' was organized by the research institute SEDET (Societes en developpement dans l'espace et dans le temps) of the Universit Paris 7 Denis Diderot. The objectives of the conference were to identify, analyse, and define the actors of political Islam in the different countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, where Islam has often been referred to as an Islam of brotherhoods (confreries). In earlier research the Islam of the brotherhoods is often depicted as peaceful and non-political, whereas the reformist groups are said to be political in scope and often use violence. But how do these trends actually relate? Show less
Media in general, and especially feature films, have the power to create places. Mass media and the cinema supply major parts of society with information on current affairs and ideas about foreign... Show moreMedia in general, and especially feature films, have the power to create places. Mass media and the cinema supply major parts of society with information on current affairs and ideas about foreign places. It is within this context that the interdisciplinary network on 'Cinema and the Middle East' met from 11-12 October 2000 at the Institute of Geography at the University of Mainz. The conference was jointly organized by Prof. Dr Anton Escher and Prof. Dr Günter Meyer, both of the Centre for Research on the Arab World (CERAW). Show less
From 18 to 20 April 2001 a number of scholars from Africa, Europe and the United States convened at the ISIM to present papers for the seminar on 'Muslim Communities, Globalization, and Identities... Show moreFrom 18 to 20 April 2001 a number of scholars from Africa, Europe and the United States convened at the ISIM to present papers for the seminar on 'Muslim Communities, Globalization, and Identities in Africa'. The event ended an ISIM atelier that had commenced in February 2001 with four scholars: Jos van Santen (Leiden), Karin Willemse (Rotterdam), Cheikh Gueye (Dakar) and Shamil Jeppie (Cape Town). Show less
The Centre for Islam in Europe (CIE) held its inaugural conference on 25 October 2000 in Ghent. The conference, held at Ghent University, was organized by the CIE in close collaboration with the... Show moreThe Centre for Islam in Europe (CIE) held its inaugural conference on 25 October 2000 in Ghent. The conference, held at Ghent University, was organized by the CIE in close collaboration with the Flemish Muslim association, VOEM (Association for the Education and Emancipation of Muslims). At the occasion, two new courses were jointly inaugurated: 'Islam in Europe's Secular States' and 'Racism and Representation'. They will be taught by two leading members of the CIE: Prof. Herman de Ley and Prof. Jan Blommaert, respectively. Show less
On 29 and 30 June 2001 nine young female scholars met at the University of Constance (Germany) to discuss how female identity is constructed in various contemporary Muslim societies, and what... Show moreOn 29 and 30 June 2001 nine young female scholars met at the University of Constance (Germany) to discuss how female identity is constructed in various contemporary Muslim societies, and what constitutes this female Muslim identity. Sponsored by a special university programme aimed at the encouragement of academic research by women (Anreizsystem zur Frauenfrderung) and in cooperation with the Forum of Social Research (www.socialresearch.de), Schirin Amir-Moazami (Department of Political and Social Sciences, Florence) and Wiebke Ernst (Department of History and Sociology, Constance) organized the workshop to give a panel of young scholars the opportunity to discuss their respective research projects with a view to this topic. Show less
Women's production of scientific feminist knowledge in Arab-Islamic society is rarely systematically addressed. The available literature reflects preconceptions and misconceptions about women's... Show moreWomen's production of scientific feminist knowledge in Arab-Islamic society is rarely systematically addressed. The available literature reflects preconceptions and misconceptions about women's feminist scientific production of knowledge in the Arab world. In response to this, it is necessary to provide a systemic view of women's scientific production of knowledge in Arab-Islamic education and society. The focus then shifts from the 'woman question' in Arab- Islamic society to the more radical 'science question' in feminism, education and society in general. Show less
From 9 to 11 November 2001 the ISIM will hold a workshop on 'Islam, Women's Rights and Islamic Feminism: Making Connections between Different Perspectives'. Some consider 'Islamic' and 'feminist'... Show moreFrom 9 to 11 November 2001 the ISIM will hold a workshop on 'Islam, Women's Rights and Islamic Feminism: Making Connections between Different Perspectives'. Some consider 'Islamic' and 'feminist' perspectives as mutually exclusive or deny the need for an Islamic feminism with the argument that Islam as it is has already given women all their rights. An investigation of women's activism in Muslim societies through the prism of 'Islamic feminism' takes a different point of departure. Show less
The Second International Conference of the Human Rights Movement in the Arab World was held in Cairo from 13-16 October 2000, under the title of 'Human Rights, Education and Dissemination: A 21st... Show moreThe Second International Conference of the Human Rights Movement in the Arab World was held in Cairo from 13-16 October 2000, under the title of 'Human Rights, Education and Dissemination: A 21st Century Agenda'. The conference was held at the invitation of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIRHS), in coordination with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network. It came in response to the conclusions of the First International Conference of the Human Rights Movement in the Arab World, organized by the CIHRS (Casablanca, April 1999), at which was stated that utmost priority should be given to the tasks of human rights education and dissemination. There was a shared belief that citizens' awareness of their rights is the first line of defence of human rights. Show less
The Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo (NVIC) held a seminar entitled 'A Pioneer of Islamic Studies in Hungary: Ignaz Goldziher (1850-1921) and his Significance for the 21st Century' on 4... Show moreThe Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo (NVIC) held a seminar entitled 'A Pioneer of Islamic Studies in Hungary: Ignaz Goldziher (1850-1921) and his Significance for the 21st Century' on 4 October 2000, in co-operation with the Hungarian Embassy in Cairo. The work of Ignaz Goldziher can still be regarded as seminal for numerous fields within Arabic and Islamic Studies. Show less
The title of the international congress held in Leiden from 14 to 16 December 2000, 'Religious Freedom and the Neutrality of the State: The Position of Islam in the European Union', can be said to... Show moreThe title of the international congress held in Leiden from 14 to 16 December 2000, 'Religious Freedom and the Neutrality of the State: The Position of Islam in the European Union', can be said to indicate a challenge. Although all member states of the European Union state the principles of religious freedom and non-discrimination in their constitutions, neutrality appears to be a paradoxical concept. A group of 35 scholars from 11 countries of the European Union discussed the recent developments regarding the position of Islam within the current national legislations, political structures and public discourses in the European Union. Show less
From 6 to 8 December 2001 the ISIM, together with the Research Centre Religion and Society, will hold an international conference on 'Religion, Media and the Public Sphere' at the University of... Show moreFrom 6 to 8 December 2001 the ISIM, together with the Research Centre Religion and Society, will hold an international conference on 'Religion, Media and the Public Sphere' at the University of Amsterdam. Since the 1990s, three themes have featured prominently in debates in the social sciences and cultural studies: the crisis of the post-colonial nation-state, the increasing global accessibility and proliferation of electronic media, and the rise of religious movements. Show less
From 21-24 June 2000, a group of international scholars met in Paris to discuss modern Islamist movements in a conference under the (translated) heading: 'Twenty Years After...'. The idea was to... Show moreFrom 21-24 June 2000, a group of international scholars met in Paris to discuss modern Islamist movements in a conference under the (translated) heading: 'Twenty Years After...'. The idea was to review and assess the 20 years of the studies of Islamist movements, taking the Iranian Revolution of 1979 as a hypothetical point of reference. These movements, collectively known as 'Political Islam', have been used synonymously with terms as varied as 'fundamentalism', 'alternative modernities', 'Islamic revivalism', and so on. It has been perceived as a 'threat', a force opposing Western culture in the 'clash of civilizations'. The more militant groups, with their calls for 'jihad', are often - and erroneously - considered representative of Political Islam as a whole. Show less
In October 1998, The Middle East and West Europe Centers of the University of California at Berkeley jointly sponsored a two-day symposium, ‘Islam and the Changing Identity of Europe: Culture,... Show moreIn October 1998, The Middle East and West Europe Centers of the University of California at Berkeley jointly sponsored a two-day symposium, ‘Islam and the Changing Identity of Europe: Culture, Politics and Citizenship in an Era of Globalization’. The programme focused on the deep ideational changes which have been taking place in Europe due to the Muslim populations which have sprung up in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and elsewhere. The symposium explored political and cultural aspects of the emerging identities of these relatively new citizens Ð how they view themselves and how they are viewed by non-Muslim Europeans, as well as how the relatively indigenous populations of Europe are being forced to rethink their own collective identities, both as Europeans and as citizens of specific countries. In their symposium prospectus and introductory remarks the organizers argued that these are no longer migration issues in the traditional sense, because most Muslims in Europe are no longer migrants. Muslim populations have been present in Europe for several generations, although many Europeans have been slow to recognize that Islam is now a European religion. Show less
