A few weeks ago, I attended a religious wedding in the Netherlands. A Moroccan imam concluded a marriage between a Muslim man and a non-Muslim Dutch woman - a widow with two grown-up sons. Ten... Show moreA few weeks ago, I attended a religious wedding in the Netherlands. A Moroccan imam concluded a marriage between a Muslim man and a non-Muslim Dutch woman - a widow with two grown-up sons. Ten people attended the ceremony: the intending couple, the imam and two members of a local mosque, the woman's two sons, and three female friends. The event epitomized in many ways what it means to live in a migrational situation where many religious facilities that can be taken for granted in Muslim majority countries must be reconstructed. Show less
Genuine culture can never claim a unique origin. Its validity and its richness are drawn from a long interaction within human society. The centres of cultures, historicized as centres of... Show moreGenuine culture can never claim a unique origin. Its validity and its richness are drawn from a long interaction within human society. The centres of cultures, historicized as centres of civilization, have been constantly travelling and traversing at the same pace as human curiosity, and curiosity is as old as being. Show less
Considerable criticism has been directed towards traditional Islamic educational institutions, the madrasas, as breeding grounds of militant Islam and training camps for jihad. The powerful... Show moreConsiderable criticism has been directed towards traditional Islamic educational institutions, the madrasas, as breeding grounds of militant Islam and training camps for jihad. The powerful perception of the supposedly unilateral inter-relatedness between these religious schools and jihad, between mullahs and violence, produced and perpetuated fear in the public mind in the West. As a result, the relationship between state power and civil rights has been subjected to very severe restrictions in countries like Pakistan - and without major reactions from the public. This has enabled governments to push through restrictive policies in an unprecedented way. Show less
Following the tragic events of 11 September 2001, Samuel Huntington's theory of a 'clash of civilizations' has been garnering greater currency. Whereas it was roundly condemned in 1993 as a new... Show moreFollowing the tragic events of 11 September 2001, Samuel Huntington's theory of a 'clash of civilizations' has been garnering greater currency. Whereas it was roundly condemned in 1993 as a new manifestation of Orientalism, in today's post-11 September world it is hailed as having 'lasting importance'. Such dangerous thinking is now beginning to pervade presentations of Iranian-American relations, distorting the reality that conflict between Iran and the United States is a result of conflicting interests, not cultures. Show less
Abdulkader Tayob, from the University of Cape, joins the ISIM as the ISIM Chair at the University of Nijmegen. His arrival brings with it his wealth of experience in the study of Islam from the... Show moreAbdulkader Tayob, from the University of Cape, joins the ISIM as the ISIM Chair at the University of Nijmegen. His arrival brings with it his wealth of experience in the study of Islam from the perspective of religious studies and South African politics. Tayob is particularly interested in the trends and developments in African Islam since the end of colonial rule. How have Muslims and Islamic institutions developed since the 1960s? Which interpretations of Islam, and which social and political forms, have dominated the public debate among Muslims? In spite of diversity, can one speak of an African experience of Islam? If so, what can this experience tell us about global Muslim experiences? These are the kinds of questions that Tayob will bring to the ISIM in the coming years. Show less
In June and July 1999 the National Film Theatre in London screened over 50 Iranian films, made before and after the 1978-79 Revolution. The proceedings of the accompanying SOAS conference have now... Show moreIn June and July 1999 the National Film Theatre in London screened over 50 Iranian films, made before and after the 1978-79 Revolution. The proceedings of the accompanying SOAS conference have now been published. Contributors review the development of Iranian cinema before the Revolution, efforts to create an Islamic cinema afterwards, and the growing international success of the 'New Iranian Cinema'. Typical features of this cinema are examined: the blurring of boundaries between documentary and fiction, the focus on children, the constrained portrayal of women, and the way the success of Iranian cinema has provided both a focus and a forum for Iranians to reconsider their national and cultural identity. Show less
Palestinian national identity arose during the period of British rule (1917-1948). The Nabi Musa (Prophet Moses) festival - mawsim al-Nabi Musa - provides us with an example of how a religious... Show morePalestinian national identity arose during the period of British rule (1917-1948). The Nabi Musa (Prophet Moses) festival - mawsim al-Nabi Musa - provides us with an example of how a religious ritual celebrated within a colonial context shaped nationalist ideas. Rituals, such as festivals and pilgrimages serve as arenas for the interaction of various social groups, each of which possesses its own agendas and discourses on questions of order in society. In British-ruled Palestine, powerful social groups such as the Palestinian political leaders and the British colonial authorities used the Nabi Musa festival to promote a conservative version of Palestinian nationalism, one which remained anti-Zionist but which avoided expressing popular discontent regarding British occupation. Show less
In the last few years there has been an upsurge of scholarly interest in the circum-Mediterranean area as part of a wider academic movement to rethink and revitalize area studies. As a transitional... Show moreIn the last few years there has been an upsurge of scholarly interest in the circum-Mediterranean area as part of a wider academic movement to rethink and revitalize area studies. As a transitional zone the Mediterranean area has always had a somewhat uncertain, marginal, and ambivalent position in the field of established area specializations, which until recently were defined by rather rigid and arbitrary geo-political boundaries. 'The Middle East', a product of the strategic thinking of 19th-century 'Europe' (itself a problematic category), is a case in point. Scholars, in particular anthropologists, working in the Middle East and North Africa have often studied this region as detached from the wider Mediterranean world. One good reason to correct this myopic perspective is to be found in the basic fact that the Mediterranean region has been the breeding ground of globalization and cosmopolitanism in which the sea played a major role. Show less
The visibility of converts to Islam in the media has recently undergone an exponential increase - mainly in the United States. There was the case of Jonny Walker, labelled 'Jonny the Taliban', born... Show moreThe visibility of converts to Islam in the media has recently undergone an exponential increase - mainly in the United States. There was the case of Jonny Walker, labelled 'Jonny the Taliban', born into the wasp upper class, who was apprehended as mujahid in Afghanistan. Then there was Jose Padilla, the would-be terrorist who was seized in an airport loaded with explosives. Finally, John Allen Williams came on the scene. Of Jamaican ancestry, born in Louisiana, this former American soldier in the Gulf War became the serial killer that terrorized Washington in October 2002 by killing 13 people in cold blood . These three tales have nothing in common, apart from the fact that all three protagonists are converts to Islam. Show less
In 1947, when Pakistan came into being, there were only two university departments of social sciences: one in history and one in economics. More departments were established in the 1960s when... Show moreIn 1947, when Pakistan came into being, there were only two university departments of social sciences: one in history and one in economics. More departments were established in the 1960s when research in sociology and social work expanded. Although the growth of social sciences was still slow - until 1983 there were only 34 social science departments in all the Pakistani universities - the range of social sciences expanded to include (apart from economics and history) departments of political science, psychology, international relations, social work, and anthropology. The state began employing social scientists in its activities of planning and finance. The government also established research institutions in the fields of economics, foreign affairs, administration, and development economics. Show less
The 12 October bombing in Bali that killed more than 180 people seemed to vindicate the claims of those who had been accusing the Indonesian authorities of deliberately ignoring the presence on... Show moreThe 12 October bombing in Bali that killed more than 180 people seemed to vindicate the claims of those who had been accusing the Indonesian authorities of deliberately ignoring the presence on Indonesian soil of Islamic terrorists connected with al-Qacida network. More sober voices commented that domestic power struggles, rather than international terrorism, might be responsible for this outrage. It was the largest, but by no means the first major bomb explosion in Indonesia. Show less
A subject that has largely been overlooked until recently and whose implications for the various fields of Islamic studies are wide-ranging, is female mosque attendance and the corresponding... Show moreA subject that has largely been overlooked until recently and whose implications for the various fields of Islamic studies are wide-ranging, is female mosque attendance and the corresponding spatial organization that it entails. In Senegal the rise and influence of the Mouvement Islamique has granted women a place in the mosque formerly denied them by the turuq, the Sufi brotherhoods. Degrees of spatial marginalization, on the one hand, and appropriation, on the other, vary. Much of the current literature on Senegal maintains that the impact of Islamism is still relatively small. Although religious observance in Senegal is relatively strong and predominantly Sufi in its orientation, the recent infiltration of 'Wahhabi' ideas has given women greater access to public places of worship. Show less
The conflict over Islam and the West began many years ago and the ignorant viewpoints on Islam are historical ones. Since 11 September panic has set in, and from the rampant fear emerges the... Show moreThe conflict over Islam and the West began many years ago and the ignorant viewpoints on Islam are historical ones. Since 11 September panic has set in, and from the rampant fear emerges the question of how such a 'civilized' part of the world could be so blind. Information is everywhere, from academia to the media: becoming properly informed demands no great effort. But ironically it does not matter how much you have in terms of luxury or financial security, as these do not equate to common sense. Such a void is not the monopoly of the West; it is alive and well in every society. What is wrong with Islam? What is its problem with the West? Why cannot Islam just be peaceful like all the other religions? The questions go on and the answers are seemingly in 'recycle' mode. Show less
On 5 January 2001 the Japanese Asahi Shinbun newspaper reported that the Indonesian Department of Health had ordered P.T. Ajinomoto-Indonesia to withdraw its product, Ajinomoto, an artificial... Show moreOn 5 January 2001 the Japanese Asahi Shinbun newspaper reported that the Indonesian Department of Health had ordered P.T. Ajinomoto-Indonesia to withdraw its product, Ajinomoto, an artificial seasoning of monosodium glutamate (MSG), from the market because it contained pork. A few days later, the then Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid, also an expert on fiqh, expressed to the Japanese Minister of Justice that he believed the Ajinomoto seasoning could indeed be consumed by Muslims. This seemingly trivial occurrence nonetheless became intertwined in the religious and political issues of Indonesia under the Wahid government. Show less
In the official Hungarian census of 2001, some 4000 of the country's legal residents, mostly immigrants, declared themselves as Muslims - conversion of Hungarian-born citizens to Islam still being... Show moreIn the official Hungarian census of 2001, some 4000 of the country's legal residents, mostly immigrants, declared themselves as Muslims - conversion of Hungarian-born citizens to Islam still being a rare occurrence. Over the last decade, nonetheless, noticeable public and official interest in Islam has been provoked inevitably by the wars in the neighbouring former Yugoslavia and, of course, 11 September. Islam in Hungary demonstrates a unique path of development and specific responses to local and global circumstances throughout its history. Show less
The first political murder in its democratic history shocked the Netherlands to the core. One week before the parliamentary elections, planned for 15 May 2002, the publicist and politician Pim... Show moreThe first political murder in its democratic history shocked the Netherlands to the core. One week before the parliamentary elections, planned for 15 May 2002, the publicist and politician Pim Fortuyn, branded by the American and British press as the maverick of Dutch politics, was shot dead as he was leaving a radio station in Hilversum. A dramatic end for a politician who relied on the theatrical and strong statements on migrants, in particular Muslims. Show less
Muslim brotherhoods (turuq), most notably the Mourides, have been considered a dominant factor of political influence at the local and national levels in Senegal. The recent election campaigns,... Show moreMuslim brotherhoods (turuq), most notably the Mourides, have been considered a dominant factor of political influence at the local and national levels in Senegal. The recent election campaigns, however, seem to indicate a changing influence of religious authorities on a local level. Most of the opposition parties formed a coalition which intended to break up the dominance of the Socialist Party, an intention which was successfully realized. International political - not necessarily homogeneous religious - networks and new means of communication were decisive for the victory of the new president, Abdoulaye Wade, in 2001. Show less
Global attention was given to the macro-political changes of Hong Kong in 1997, namely the transition of sovereignty from British colonial rule to the rule of the socialist regime of the People's... Show moreGlobal attention was given to the macro-political changes of Hong Kong in 1997, namely the transition of sovereignty from British colonial rule to the rule of the socialist regime of the People's Republic of China (PRC). But the micro-history of ethnic minorities has been often neglected, if not suppressed. The history of the Muslim ethnic minorities in Hong Kong under British colonial rule and the Chinese-dominated government can be revealed vividly through the design and the spatial distribution of mosques throughout Hong Kong's history. The history of ethnic Muslims is intertwined with that of the mosques in which they gathered. Mosques were - and still are - perceived as sites of cultural and political contestation. Show less
Following the tragic events of 11 September 2001, the relationship between religion and democracy has emerged as one of the most important and vexing questions of our age, particularly as it... Show moreFollowing the tragic events of 11 September 2001, the relationship between religion and democracy has emerged as one of the most important and vexing questions of our age, particularly as it relates to Muslim societies. Most of the theoretical debate surrounding this relationship involves a discussion of Arab and Islamic political culture, secularism, and the problems of separating mosque and state in Muslim political theory. A critical prerequisite for democratic development is the transformation of religion. This conclusion is implicit in the writings of one of the early theoreticians of democracy, Alexis de Tocqueville. What lessons can democratic activists in the Muslim world learn from his observations of the early American republic? Show less
Afghanistan: Tree of Life and Kalashnikov is an exhibition (14 July 2001 - 27 January 2002) at the Linden-Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. More than 20 years of war, civil war, displacement of people,... Show moreAfghanistan: Tree of Life and Kalashnikov is an exhibition (14 July 2001 - 27 January 2002) at the Linden-Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. More than 20 years of war, civil war, displacement of people, and the Taliban's iconoclasm have led to immense losses of cultural treasures. At the same time the brutalities of war have inspired a new form of popular art. Baluch and Turkmen tribal women and those from other western Afghan groups weave carpets that depict automatic guns, tanks, helicopters and other motives. The exhibition exemplifies important periods of the region's culture from the Bronze Age to today, and displays a selection of these modern war carpets from a private German collection with photo documents. Show less
