Professor Lila Abu-Lughod delivered the ISIM Annual Lecture on 17 December 2004 at the Spiegelzaal, Utrecht University. She analyzed media portrayals of Islamism and religious extremism in popular... Show moreProfessor Lila Abu-Lughod delivered the ISIM Annual Lecture on 17 December 2004 at the Spiegelzaal, Utrecht University. She analyzed media portrayals of Islamism and religious extremism in popular Egyptian television dramatic serials and suggested that new media representations of Islamists, and the debates they sparked nationally, have contributed to reconfigurations of current notions of “religion” and “nation.” Below is an abridged version of her lecture. Show less
On the occasion of the 2004 Erasmus Prize, the Praemium Erasmianum Foundation organized a one-day conference on Religion and Modernity in coordination with the ISIM and the Prince Claus Fund for... Show moreOn the occasion of the 2004 Erasmus Prize, the Praemium Erasmianum Foundation organized a one-day conference on Religion and Modernity in coordination with the ISIM and the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development. The conference was held on 3 November in Park Plaza, Amsterdam. Show less
The film Submission, written by Hirsi Ali and filmed by the late Theo van Gogh, was aired on Dutch television in the summer of 2004. Some have referred to the film as a work of art while others... Show moreThe film Submission, written by Hirsi Ali and filmed by the late Theo van Gogh, was aired on Dutch television in the summer of 2004. Some have referred to the film as a work of art while others have stressed its offensive nature due to its portrayal of violence against Muslim women. Yet the film is first and foremost striking in its unimaginative resonance with the visual imagery of Orientalism. Show less
The ISIM and the Amsterdam School for Social Science Research (ASSR) jointly organized the workshop, “Muslim Fashions - Fashionable Muslims” which was held 15–16 April. The workshop took place at... Show moreThe ISIM and the Amsterdam School for Social Science Research (ASSR) jointly organized the workshop, “Muslim Fashions - Fashionable Muslims” which was held 15–16 April. The workshop took place at Amsterdam University with additional financial support by the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS). Show less
Sufism contains inherently trans-regional, transnational, and trans-ethnic dimensions. The difficulty in trying to understand Sufism is that in any particular locality there is a wide range of Sufi... Show moreSufism contains inherently trans-regional, transnational, and trans-ethnic dimensions. The difficulty in trying to understand Sufism is that in any particular locality there is a wide range of Sufi saints, from major shrines of great antiquity to minor saints with a highly localized clientele. Charting difference and similarity in Sufism as an embodied tradition requires attention beyond mystical, philosophical, and ethical ideas, to the ritual performances and religious organizational patterns that shape Sufi orders. Show less
Muslims in Cape Town, South Africa, explore ways to be openly lesbian, gay, and transgendered and still be part of a Muslim community. Advocacy groups there assert their place as interpreters of... Show moreMuslims in Cape Town, South Africa, explore ways to be openly lesbian, gay, and transgendered and still be part of a Muslim community. Advocacy groups there assert their place as interpreters of Islam in a way that is open to diversity and engaged in a quest for justice. Show less
There is no doubt that the events of 11 September 2001 have had far-reaching consequences for the international perception of education systems in the Islamic world. The US government, in... Show moreThere is no doubt that the events of 11 September 2001 have had far-reaching consequences for the international perception of education systems in the Islamic world. The US government, in particular, has strongly criticized both religious schools outside state control and national educational curricula as sites of possible Islamic militancy. As a result, many Arab states, including Jordan, have witnessed public debates in which members of national governments and Islamist opposition groups appear at odds about the need for curriculum changes and educational reform. Show less
Since its emergence in the late 1960s, heavy metal has witnessed a worldwide spread, including to countries of the Middle East. Modern means of media and communication systems convey its specific... Show moreSince its emergence in the late 1960s, heavy metal has witnessed a worldwide spread, including to countries of the Middle East. Modern means of media and communication systems convey its specific cultural codes to a global audience. The “new” codes and symbols get appropriated and sometimes assume contradictory meanings in local contexts. Show less
In Mapping Sitting, photographic works are presented to raise questions about how portraiture photography functioned in the Arab world as a commodity, a luxury item, an adornment, a description of... Show moreIn Mapping Sitting, photographic works are presented to raise questions about how portraiture photography functioned in the Arab world as a commodity, a luxury item, an adornment, a description of individuals and groups, and as the inscription of social identities. Photographic representations were indicative of new notions of work, leisure, play, citizenship, community, and individuality. Show less
Recent discussions in Germany around modes of dealing with the growing cultural-religious plurality reveal a widespread consensus that the so-called Dutch “model of multiculturalism” is a complete... Show moreRecent discussions in Germany around modes of dealing with the growing cultural-religious plurality reveal a widespread consensus that the so-called Dutch “model of multiculturalism” is a complete failure. However further examination reveals that this current backlash against multiculturalism is more of a symptom for a widely held discomfort caused by the realization that Islam has become an integral part of German society. Show less
The following observations constitute a preliminary and provisional response to two recent events: the murder of Theo van Gogh in the Netherlands, and the American assault on Fallujah, both of... Show moreThe following observations constitute a preliminary and provisional response to two recent events: the murder of Theo van Gogh in the Netherlands, and the American assault on Fallujah, both of which prompt broader reflections on issues pertaining to violence and religion. Show less
The Lebanon-based al-Ahbash movement advocates a radical neo-traditionalist version of Sunni Islam. Although numerically modest, it has established branches in several Western countries, where it... Show moreThe Lebanon-based al-Ahbash movement advocates a radical neo-traditionalist version of Sunni Islam. Although numerically modest, it has established branches in several Western countries, where it continues the campaign it started in the Middle East against the Salafi trend. The movement uses the Internet innovatively and demonstrates that the strategic use of web-based interactive communication tools does not necessarily lead to the reinforcement of a culture of dialogue; on the contrary they can also serve as a means to achieve virtual ideological hegemony. Show less
Since early 2003 Darfur has been the site of mounting violence which has led the UN to describe the conflict as currently “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.” The US Congress even labelled the... Show moreSince early 2003 Darfur has been the site of mounting violence which has led the UN to describe the conflict as currently “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.” The US Congress even labelled the conflict a “genocide.” Diverse ethnic groups as well as the government were engaged in violence in the 1980s and 1990s. However, violence has reached a new dimension in the recent war where racism has become the main legitimating discourse of the conflict. The recent history of the conflict suggests, however, that the root causes are socio-economic and political rather than ethnic. Show less
The ISIM, in collaboration with the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), organized a workshop, “The making of Muslim Youths: Youth Cultures & Politics in Muslim Societies and... Show moreThe ISIM, in collaboration with the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), organized a workshop, “The making of Muslim Youths: Youth Cultures & Politics in Muslim Societies and Communities.” The workshop took place 18 to 19 February at Leiden University and was convened by Asef Bayat. Show less
Aziz Tash (Aziz Nazmi Shakir) was born in 1973, in the city of Smolyan, where he graduated from an English-immersion high school. He holds a BA in Arabic and Turkish philology from the University... Show moreAziz Tash (Aziz Nazmi Shakir) was born in 1973, in the city of Smolyan, where he graduated from an English-immersion high school. He holds a BA in Arabic and Turkish philology from the University of Sofia, and a Ph.D. in the History of Science from the University of Istanbul, where he currently teaches. His mother tongue is Turkish, yet Tash maintains a notable presence on the Bulgarian cultural scene, publishing poetry, prose, and translations from the Arabic, Turkish, English, and Russian. Show less
The dominant narrative dealing with crimes of violence against Muslim women in both the Europe and the Middle East employs strikingly similar strategies, motifs, and symbols, especially when it... Show moreThe dominant narrative dealing with crimes of violence against Muslim women in both the Europe and the Middle East employs strikingly similar strategies, motifs, and symbols, especially when it comes to the issue of rape. Such similarities beg the question: to what extent is the discourse on rape part of the problem of acts of violence against women? Show less
By disqualifying the candidacy of 80 incumbent legislators, Iran’s Guardian Council (GC) showed its will to put an end to the reform movement. With a weakened reform movement opposing them, and an... Show moreBy disqualifying the candidacy of 80 incumbent legislators, Iran’s Guardian Council (GC) showed its will to put an end to the reform movement. With a weakened reform movement opposing them, and an international community urging to negotiate with a unique central authority in Iran, the moment was opportune to strike a fatal blow at the electoral system. Show less
The critique of Wahhabism has gained unprecedented momentum in Saudi Arabia in recent years. First formulated by a small group of prominent liberal and Islamist intellectuals, it seems to have... Show moreThe critique of Wahhabism has gained unprecedented momentum in Saudi Arabia in recent years. First formulated by a small group of prominent liberal and Islamist intellectuals, it seems to have received the approval of at least part of the ruling elite who have taken a few official steps towards socio-religious reform. But is Saudi Arabia ready to enter the era of Post-Wahhabism? Show less
Islam is undeniably transnational, yet Muslims may experience transnationalism differently depending on their countries of origin and residence and mode of settlement. This article indicates some... Show moreIslam is undeniably transnational, yet Muslims may experience transnationalism differently depending on their countries of origin and residence and mode of settlement. This article indicates some of the various ways in which Islam and transnationalism intersect and suggests how transnationalism impinges on contemporary debates about how to live as a Muslim in Western Europe and on the emergence of a “European Islam” or “European-Muslim” identity. Show less
