The Middle East is currently saturated with talk about “change.” Yet, the resiliency of authoritarianism and patriarchy in the region coupled with the evident failure of “democratization”-by... Show moreThe Middle East is currently saturated with talk about “change.” Yet, the resiliency of authoritarianism and patriarchy in the region coupled with the evident failure of “democratization”-by-conquest have plunged this part of the world into a depressing impasse. The region’s Muslim majority is caught up between, on the one hand, authoritarian regimes or fundamentalist inspired opposition, both of which tend to impose severe social control in the name of nation and religion, and on the other, flagrant foreign intervention and occupation in the name of democratization. We witness, then, a clear abuse of faith, freedom, and the faithful. In the midst of this, however, one thing has become clearer. If a meaningful change is to occur in these societies it should come from within, through the self-assertion of societal forces in a democratic direction. But the monumental question is how? Show less
Shadi Ghadirian is representative of the young intellectuals and avant-garde artists of Iran at the beginning of the 21st century. She studied photography and was influenced by the most liberal and... Show moreShadi Ghadirian is representative of the young intellectuals and avant-garde artists of Iran at the beginning of the 21st century. She studied photography and was influenced by the most liberal and creative of minds while even so she also worked in an environment in which she was required to participate actively in the acquisition of religious knowledge. From this situation emerges a body of work imbued with paradoxes. Show less
The ISIM invited 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi for her first formal visit to the Netherlands where she met with members of NGOs, government officials, scholars, students, and activists... Show moreThe ISIM invited 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi for her first formal visit to the Netherlands where she met with members of NGOs, government officials, scholars, students, and activists from 15-17 April 2004. On 16 April she gave a lecture at the Nieuwe of Littéraire Sociëteit de Witte in The Hague entitled, Human Rights, Women and Islam which is presented below in abridged form with some audience questions. Show less
Impediments to the global trend of democratization, particularly in Islamic nations, have been widely debated in the past fifteen years. Scholars disagree as to whether Islam is compatible with... Show moreImpediments to the global trend of democratization, particularly in Islamic nations, have been widely debated in the past fifteen years. Scholars disagree as to whether Islam is compatible with democracy; part of the controversy stems from questions pertaining to the extension of citizenship rights, particularly when it comes to women. Debates over the compatibility of women’s empowerment and public participation with Islamic values have intensified, specifically in the Middle East. Show less
By continuing to speak Armenian, the small community of Hemshin in northeastern Turkey has become the only community of Armenian-speaking Muslims. Furthermore, by developing after their conversion... Show moreBy continuing to speak Armenian, the small community of Hemshin in northeastern Turkey has become the only community of Armenian-speaking Muslims. Furthermore, by developing after their conversion to Islam a group identity distinct from that of its neighbours, they have constituted an exception to one of the more typical paradigms in the Ottoman Empire, whereby Armenian converts to Islam were assimilated completely into the surrounding Muslim environment. Yet, while maintaining Armenian components in their culture, a majority of Hemshin dissociate themselves from their Armenian ancestry. The rural exodus has emptied many of the villages, but among the younger generation, including those born in the cities, a growing number seeks to preserve Hemshinli traditions. Show less
Postcolonial Africa has witnessed problematic processes of nation and state building, but in general the state structures as designed in late-colonial and early independence endure, including their... Show morePostcolonial Africa has witnessed problematic processes of nation and state building, but in general the state structures as designed in late-colonial and early independence endure, including their secular orientation. A major challenge for the state in Africa is to advance its respect for devotional diversity, because the secular state has an interest in religious diversity. Show less
Al-Azhar University projects an image of a thousand year old institution that has symbolized the authority and reference point for Sunni Islam and has been involved in struggles for national... Show moreAl-Azhar University projects an image of a thousand year old institution that has symbolized the authority and reference point for Sunni Islam and has been involved in struggles for national independence. A jealous guardian of the Arabic language and its culture, al-Azhar has the pretension of exerting its influence throughout the entire Islamic world. Nevertheless, the idealized image that it projects is quite far from the complex reality al-Azhar actually faces, and the post 11 September 2001 period has made evident the challenges this institution is confronting. Show less
The African Association for the Study of Religions (AASR) held a three-day regional conference under the title, The Role of Religion in the Socio-Cultural Transformation of West African Sub... Show moreThe African Association for the Study of Religions (AASR) held a three-day regional conference under the title, The Role of Religion in the Socio-Cultural Transformation of West African Sub-continent from the 5th–8th February 2004 in Ghana at the Ghana Institute for Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). Among the topics covered were: religion and the state; conflict and violence; religion in contestation; religion as a source of values; and the study of religion. Show less
Culture is a key word in contemporary Iran, especially in relation to power. Developing a practice begun in the early nineties, several national and local institutions are investing in “cultural... Show moreCulture is a key word in contemporary Iran, especially in relation to power. Developing a practice begun in the early nineties, several national and local institutions are investing in “cultural activities” as a neutralized ground for the construction of citizens. This process intersects with poetry, which has a great power of recognition and is hegemonic well beyond the state: while on one hand poetry seems to offer expressive possibilities otherwise unavailable, on the other it is in fact an effective modality of power. Show less
The political opposition in Egypt has recently been showing growing forms of cooperation, especially at the grass root level. The nationalist Nasserists, Leftists and Islamists are infamous for... Show moreThe political opposition in Egypt has recently been showing growing forms of cooperation, especially at the grass root level. The nationalist Nasserists, Leftists and Islamists are infamous for their internecine conflict and none are a homogeneous political group representing a monolithic political front. Recent attempts to forge new types of collaborative political action, particularly between the latter two groups, should, therefore, not be understood as a coalition representing three discrete parties under their official leaderships, but as loose networks comprising members or sections of different political camps as well as unaffiliated sympathizers. Show less
In the context of the exhibition Urban Islam in Amsterdam (see p. 44), the Royal Tropical Institute and the ISIM co-organised a series of lectures and debates. The theme of the meeting held on 27... Show moreIn the context of the exhibition Urban Islam in Amsterdam (see p. 44), the Royal Tropical Institute and the ISIM co-organised a series of lectures and debates. The theme of the meeting held on 27 April 2004 was “From Cyber Imam to European Islam: Youth and Islam in Europe.” In his introduction to the event, Alexandre Caeiro (ISIM) focussed on how the Internet is giving rise to new types of socialization among Muslims in Europe, including original matrimonial strategies and enhanced modes of political mobilization. The main speaker for the evening was Tariq Ramadan who delivered a lively lecture on the role of Western Muslims and the future of Islam to a mixed audience of Muslim youth and non-Muslims. Show less
The US Vice-President Dick Cheney and some of those close to him in Washington have been very taken with the “Lebanese model” for Iraq. Presumably, this conjures up the vision of a pluralist... Show moreThe US Vice-President Dick Cheney and some of those close to him in Washington have been very taken with the “Lebanese model” for Iraq. Presumably, this conjures up the vision of a pluralist republic, open to free enterprise and foreign capital, presided over by an elite of zu‘ama (notables and local leaders), with sufficient common interest in the status quo to keep the whole thing going. This comes either from a selective reading of pre-1967 Lebanese political history, or from a heavily edited version of the post-Ta’if era. Show less
The Indian Muslim community experienced double minority status, first in India, then in South Africa, a factor that contributed to this group’s later modes of mobilization in the early decades of... Show moreThe Indian Muslim community experienced double minority status, first in India, then in South Africa, a factor that contributed to this group’s later modes of mobilization in the early decades of the twentieth century. From the 1930’s, as the education system modernized, the cultural heritage of Indian Islam began to play a role in the specific context of South Africa characterized by modes of integration of the Indian Muslim minority in South Africa. Show less
The terrorist attack on passenger trains in Madrid on 11 March caused shock and anger. Alerted by the assault, political authorities all over Europe have intensified their efforts to suppress... Show moreThe terrorist attack on passenger trains in Madrid on 11 March caused shock and anger. Alerted by the assault, political authorities all over Europe have intensified their efforts to suppress jihadist activities. The causes of militant Islamist activism in Europe are often considered to be external, emanating from conflicts in Palestine, Iraq, etc. But any policy based upon this externalization, i.e. denying the existence of internal roots, in particular the existence of alienated European Muslim youth, is doomed to failure. Show less
In 2002, nearly 70 years after its completion, a long essay by the celebrated Iraqi poet Maaruf Rusafi on the nature of prophecy in Islam was published in Germany. His reading of early Islamic... Show moreIn 2002, nearly 70 years after its completion, a long essay by the celebrated Iraqi poet Maaruf Rusafi on the nature of prophecy in Islam was published in Germany. His reading of early Islamic history, in particular of the accomplishments of the Prophet Muhammad, roughly coincided with another new reading; that by the Egyptian Ali Abd al-Raziq. Rusafi’s admiration for Muhammad is enormous and he credits him with inspiring the Arabs to initiate a new order, taking humanity from the reign of tribal customs to the vision of communities built on shared ethics and beliefs. Show less
Many of the people who have been arrested around the world during the past two years suspected of being members of al-Qa'ida or affiliated organizations, have taken pride in belonging to the so... Show moreMany of the people who have been arrested around the world during the past two years suspected of being members of al-Qa'ida or affiliated organizations, have taken pride in belonging to the so-called Salafi movement. The designation may cause some confusion in view of the fact that the term 'Salafi' is also known, in older academic parlance, to denote aschool of thought associated with 'modernist' reformers such as Jamal al-Din al-Afghani (1838-1897) and Muhammad Abduh (1849-1905). These reformers, if ever mentioned at all, are likely to be shunned by the contemporary Salafist. Today, 'Salafism' is more often used in reference to a quite different brand of Islamic thought and practice, a brand that is practically identical to what has otherwise been known as 'Wahhabism', i.e. the form of Sunni Islam that constitutes the 'state religion' of Saudi Arabia. Show less
In the first issue of the ISIM Newsletter (pg.14) , Jay Willoughby reported on some recent developments in the small and little-known community of the Cham of Vietnam. Five years later, he gives an... Show moreIn the first issue of the ISIM Newsletter (pg.14) , Jay Willoughby reported on some recent developments in the small and little-known community of the Cham of Vietnam. Five years later, he gives an update, in particular on the progress in education as illustrated by the Cham Student Programme. Show less
As a coalition partner in the ruling coalition, Jama'at-e-Islami (JI) occupies an important place in Bangladeshi politics. The party has come a long way since its opposition to the liberation of... Show moreAs a coalition partner in the ruling coalition, Jama'at-e-Islami (JI) occupies an important place in Bangladeshi politics. The party has come a long way since its opposition to the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, and has gradually established itself as a key player in national politics. Over the years, it has adopted moderate right wing positions, focused itself on social welfare activities, consolidated its political base through skillful manoeuvres, and forged successful electoral alliances. In so doing, it has expanded its influence and emerged as a key player in determining the ruling composition in Bangladeshi politics. Show less
Asef Bayat joins the ISIM as Academic Director and the ISIM Chair at Leiden University from the American University in Cairo, Egypt, where he worked as professor of sociology and Middle East... Show moreAsef Bayat joins the ISIM as Academic Director and the ISIM Chair at Leiden University from the American University in Cairo, Egypt, where he worked as professor of sociology and Middle East Studies. He brings to the ISIM and Leiden his vast experience in the study of contemporary Muslim societies from sociohistorical and political perspectives, with social movements and social change as his central focus. Bayat's own life trajectories, educational background, professional experience, research interests, and international connections complement the scholarly areas, approach, and objectives that the ISIM pursues. Show less
The conference 'Sufism and the 'Modern' in Islam' was held in Bogor, Indonesia, on 4-6 September 2003 and was a collaborative effort of the ISIM, Griffith University (Brisbane, Australia) and the... Show moreThe conference 'Sufism and the 'Modern' in Islam' was held in Bogor, Indonesia, on 4-6 September 2003 and was a collaborative effort of the ISIM, Griffith University (Brisbane, Australia) and the Centre for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) of Jakarta's State Islamic University. The aim of the conference was to explore current developments in Sufism and related movements over the globe. Show less
