Archive for November, 2017

Health of Bahrain’s Top Shiite Cleric Worsens

In a statement, the organization said Ayatollah Qassim, who is in his 70s and has other health problems, including high blood pressure and diabetes, was “in continuous pain and excreting blood.” The statement said the cleric’s family had implored the police surrounding his home to allow a visit on Sunday by doctors, who had recommended an emergency operation.

Saudi Arabia’s Rivalry With Iran Is Further Destabilizing the Middle East

Saudi Arabia’s increasingly erratic behavior has raised question marks around the world. After decades in which Riyadh kept a low profile and mainly intervened in world affairs by using its oil wealth, the Saudi military and intelligence machine is now pursuing a brutal war in Yemen, has put little Qatar under boycott, has attempted to destabilize Lebanon, is licking its wounds from defeat in Syria, and is cultivating potential clients in Iraq.

1.Abjad Calculator
Abjad Calculator is web tool for calculating the numerical abjadvalue of a string of Arabic or Persian text.
It was developed by Theo Beers , PhD candidate, University of Chicago.

https://www.theobeers.com/abjadcalc/

 

 

 

2. University lecturer in Persian language

A position of university lecturer (SKO 1009) in Persian language is available at the Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages, University of Oslo.

The main teaching responsibilities of the university lecturer will be within Persian language. The person employed must have experience with teaching at Bachelor level, preferably also at Master’s level. She/he will teach Persian courses at BA level and will be responsible for examinations. Teaching includes practical language (grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary etc.), as well as exercises and testing. Preparation of course materials and glossaries is also part of the duties.

The vacancy is a teaching position, with 75 % teaching and dissemination work, 19 % academic development work, and 6 % administration.  The teaching will normally be at bachelor level. Within the normal duties and academic competence, the person appointed may also be directed to work outside his/her department. The appointment is made on condition that changes to the subject area and tasks may be determined by the employer.

 

https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/143594/university-lecturer-in-persian-language

 

Application deadline: January 8th, 2018

 

 

3. Conference: “The Concept of Tolerance, and the Concept of Peace in Judaism, Christianity and Islam”,  Chair of Oriental Philology  and Islamic Studies, University of Erlangen, 13-15  December 2017

 

See the program at https://www.kcid.fau.de/files/2017/11/The_Concept_of_Tolerance_Peace_Folder_DRUCK_2.pdf

 

 

 

4. Conference: “Afghanistan: Views from Inside and Outside”, Zentralasien-Seminar, Humboldt-University, Berlin, 16-17 February 2018  

The Conference is organized by Ingeborg Baldauf, Siegmar W. Breckle and Conrad Schetter from the “Working Group Afghanistan” (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Afghanistan: AGA) to present and discuss recent research results on social issues and other themes, especially on mobility and migration.

Deadline for abstracts: 17 December 2017. Information: Contact afgkonference2018@yahoo.com

 

 

 

5. Conference: “Orientalism, Neo-Orientalism and Post-Orientalism in African, Middle East, Latin American, Asian/Chines Studies” on the 15th Anniversary of Memory of Edward Said (1935-2003) and 40th Anniversary of His Book (1978), Center for Global Studies, Shanghai University, 17-18 May 2018

Themes focus on Orientalism/Neo-Orientalism/Post-Orientalism from the perspectives of the following disciplines: Imperialism and New-Imperialism; Sociology, Political Science/International Relations; Think Tanks, International Organizations, and NGOs; Liberal and New Left Discourse; Development Studies; etc.

Deadline for abstracts: 29 February 2018. Information: https://networks.h-net.org/node/22055/discussions/229960/cfp-orientalism-neo-orientalism-and-post-orientalism-african

 

 

 

6. Jobs/Posts

 

Research Associate (Wiss. MitarbeiterIn),  “Bibliotheca Arabica”, Sächsische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Leipzig

Required Experience: PhD in Arabic or Islamic Studies; Research in the field of Arab literary history and manuscripts (codicology); Research focus in at least one of the following fields: Arabic literature, libraries in the Islamicate world, history of science, interreligious/interconfessional literary reception.

Deadline for applications: 15 December 2017. Information: https://www.saw-leipzig.de/de/ausschreibungen/stellenausschreibungen/stellenausschreibung-biblarabica-wme.pdf

 

 

Two Postdoc positions in the Research Program “The Senses of Islam: A Cultural History of perception in the Muslim World”, Utrecht University

Qualifications: A PhD in Islamic Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, or associated fields. Or a PhD dissertation in one of these fields already accepted by the PhD committee; knowledge of at least one primary Islamicate language, preferably Arabic, but other languages will also be considered; etc.

Deadline for applications:  5 January 2017. Information: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

 

 

 

7. Fully Funded Degree Programs in M.A. and PhD, University of Religions and Denominations (URD), Qom, Iran

Applications are invited from students around the globe interested in pursuing a Doctorate or Master’s programs in 1. Religions, 2. Philosophy, 3. Shiite Studies, 4. Islamic Denominations, 5. Mysticism, and 6. Gender and Women’s Studies beginning in the spring of 2018. Tuition for the entire program and upon their eligibility, they may be funded for their accommodation and meals as well. Accepted students also will have the opportunity to learn Persian for free in a six-month language course.

Information: info@urd.ac.ir

 

Opposition to Philosophy in Safavid Iran

In Opposition to Philosophy in Safavid Iran Ata Anzali and S.M. Hadi Gerami offer a critical edition of what is arguably the most erudite and extensive critique of philosophy from the Safavid period. The editors’ extensive introduction offers an in-depth analysis that places the work within the broader framework of Safavid intellectual and social history.

1.University Lecturer in the Eastern Islamic World and Persian-speaking Lands, Department of Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge

This appointment will start on 1 September 2018 and is tenure-track, subject to an initial probation period.

Deadline for application: 17 ‘December 2017. Information: https://www.ames.cam.ac.uk/faculty/jobs/university-lecturer-in-the-eastern-islamic-world-and-persian-speaking-lands

 

 

 

2. Conference: “Inscribed Objects in the Islamicate World: Aesthetics, Adab, Society”, Paris, 24 November 2017

See program: https://networks.h-net.org/node/73374/announcements/854426/%C2%AB-inscribed-objects-islamicate-world-aesthetics-adab-society-%C2%BB

 

 

 

3. Roundtable: “Approaching Religious Texts in Early Islam: The Sanaa Qur’an Palimpsest as Example”, Institute of Ismaili Studies, London, 11 December 2017

The round table brings together five scholars of the Qur’an and early Islamic documents, focusing on a manuscript dating to the 7th century CE. The morning sessions are dedicated to the manuscript itself and the afternoon sessions focus on the transmission and use of religious texts in early Islam more generally.

Information: http://iis.ac.uk/events/approaching-religious-texts-early-islam-sanaa-qur-palimpsest-example-0

 

 

 

4. Workshop on “Islam in Central Asia and China”, Center for Global Studies, Shanghai University, 18 December 2018

If you are interested in coming to Shanghai University, please email an abstract and a short bio to Associate Professor Tugrul Keskin tugrulkeskin@t.shu.edu.cn. Flight and accommodation will be covered. Sorry for the short notice.

 

 

 

5. Conference and Workshop: „The Translation of the Qur’an in Indonesia“, Yogyakarta, 30-31 July 2018

The conference invites scholars and advanced students to discuss the role of specific translations, the intentions of their authors, their social relevance, the linguistic dimension of transferring Arabic content into a local target language, and the emergence of conflicts over the translation of the Qur’an in the Indonesian context. Organized by Professors Moch Nur Ichwan (mailto:moch.ichwan@uin-suka.ac.id) and Johanna Pink (mailto:johanna.pink@orient.uni-freiburg.de).

Deadline for abstracts: February 28, 2018. Information: https://www.orient.uni-freiburg.de/islamwissenschaft/konferenzen-vortraege

 

 

 

6. First International Course on “Gender and Women’s Studies”, Women Research Center, Qom, Iran, 3-6 March 2018

The Intensive Course endeavors to enhance scholarly attention to Gender and Women’s Studies based on Islamic Shi’a point of view and seeks to offer an original and insightful image of women in Iran.

Deadline for registration: 30 December 2017. Information: http://shortcourse.wrc.ir/

 

 

 

7. Posts:

 

Professor in the Social/Political Sciences (Salary Level W3) to Study Islam in Europe in the 20th and 21st Centuries; University of Münster, Germany

The post will be filled at the earliest possible date. We seek candidates with an excellent track record in empirical research on the state of Islam and on the social situation of Muslims in Europe and/or on the social and political treatment of Islam and Muslims in European societies.

Deadline for application: 30 November 2017. Information: https://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=55979

 

 

Projects and Fundraising Manager, Middle East Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science

Candidates should have: Strong research project management and fundraising skills; Knowledge of the funding landscape for Middle East studies and the social sciences; Connections within the Middle East research community and an interest in Middle East Studies.

Deadline for applications: 30 November 2017. Information: http://www.lse.ac.uk/middle-east-centre/opportunities.

 

 

Senior Research Specialist for “Arab Barometer”, Princeton University; Based in Washington DC

The Senior Research Specialist assists in questionnaire development, performs quality control procedures, assists in statistical analysis, undertakes data analysis to support reports and presentations for dissemination of the findings. Arabic language skills highly desirable

Information: http://www.click2apply.net/xvbgmn2mvs4mzwh2

 

 

Assistant Professor of Non-Western (Middle Eastern) History, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA

This is a 10-month, tenure-track position. The appointment begins 1 August 2018.

Deadline for applications: 15 December 2017. Information: https://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=56037

 

 

 

 

Assistant Professor in the History of Africa, the Middle East or South Asia and the History of Islam, Wagner College New York

The position is to begin Fall 2018. Teaching requirements include introductory Global History survey course, as well as upper-level courses on Africa, the Middle East or South Asia and Islam.

Deadline for application: 15 December 2017. Information: https://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=56057

 

Visiting Assistant Professors in International Relations (Focus Middle East), St. Lawrence University, New York

The successful candidate will teach three courses per semester, including introductory courses in international relations and upper-level courses related to the Middle East. The position is renewable for up to one additional year.

Deadline for application: 8 January 2018. Information: https://employment.stlawu.edu/

 

 

Earlham College – Assistant Professor, Asian Religions
http://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=55785

 

 

University of Wisconsin – Madison – Assistant Professor,
Ottoman/Middle Eastern History
http://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=55821

 

 

 

8. Harvard University Asia Center
Postdoctoral Fellowships

As part of its mission to promote intra- and inter-Asian research, the
Asia Center offers two postdoctoral fellowships.

The Asia Center Postdoctoral Fellowship is available to recent Ph.D.
graduates who engage seriously with at least two Asian countries. In the
case of Southeast Asia, research may be on a single country, although
preference will be given to applicants with comparative or cross-border
projects.

The Victor and William Fung Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship is
available to recent Ph.D. graduates who engage seriously with at least
two Asian countries with the requirement that their research includes a
component dealing with Greater China.

Applicants may apply to one or both fellowships using the same application.

 

Application Deadline: Friday, January 12, 2018

For more details https://asiacenter.harvard.edu/postdoctoral-fellowships

Apply at: https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/7926

 

 

 

9. The 3^rd Course of Philosophy of Islamic Art, 4-13 March 2018, Iran

Call for registration: Islamic School of Art (ISOA) is a private academic art center which holds training courses to familiarize artists, professors and students of all around the world with different fields of Islamic art. On March 4-13, 2018 ISOA is going to hold a ten day course on “Philosophy of Islamic Art”. The Program is going to be held in four cities of Tehran, Qom, Kashan and Isfahan, and  involves the following activities: theoretical and practical lessons, presentations of various essays about Islamic Art, visits to museums and the great masterpieces of Islamic architecture, familiarization with the social and traditional culture of Iran through participation in religious festivals, experiencing Iranian traditional music, and visits to bazaars, mosques, religious centers and other places of relevance and interest.

For more further information and registration please visit: http://www.isoacourses.com/2017/10/10/philosophy-of-islamic-art-2/

 

 

Foreign correspondent: Make Saudi Arabia great again! – 48 hills

I stood in front of a mosque in the city of Qatif, Saudi Arabia, interviewing people for a story. Suddenly, two city police cars pulled up. Several minutes later plain clothes officers from the secret police began questioning me. I had entered the country with a journalist visa, but committed the grave crime of practicing journalism without official permission.

The Fourth International Conference on Shi’i Studies

CALL FOR PAPERS: The Fourth International Conference on Shi’i Studies 2018 The Islamic College | 5-6 May 2018 The Islamic College invites abstracts for its Annual Conference specialising in the growing field of Shi’i Studies.

1.The Grabar Travel Grant competition is open to graduate students (doctoral candidates) who have been invited or accepted as participants in a scholarly conference or other professional meeting for the purpose of presenting papers, chairing sessions or moderating discussions. The maximum amount of the award is $700 US.

The Grabar Post-doctoral Fellowship is intended to support post-doctoral scholars at early stage of their careers in advancing their research. Fellowship funds may be used in one of two ways:

To spend up to two months in residence as a visiting professor or fellow/research scholar at a university, museum, research institute or similar institution outside their usual country of residence or employment.
To support additional research to aid in preparing the dissertation for publication. The Grabar Post-doctoral Fellowship will provide up to $2000 US per month, for a maximum of two months. An additional $1000 may be requested for travel or for supplies.

Applicants should have completed their PhD within the last five years or have submitted their dissertations by the start of the fellowship. The fellowship is open to scholars of all nationalities; however applicants are responsible for obtaining required visas for residence and research in the country specified in their application. For further details on both competitions and for application forms, please see the HIAA webpage:
https://www.historiansofislamicart.org/opportunities/hiaa-prizes/grabar-grants-and-fellows…
 

2. The Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC) at the University of Hamburg, Germany, is pleased to announce a workshop organised by Stefanie Brinkmann (Universität Hamburg) and Ali Zaherinezhad (CSMC, Universität Hamburg) on “The Study of Ḥadīth Commentaries: Uncovering an Important Genre of Islamic Scholarship”, taking place on 1-2 December 2017.

Research on ḥadīth commentaries in general, and those in manuscripts in particular, has been neglected by contemporary research. This workshop seeks to engender intensive discussion of various aspects of this genre and to uncover distinctive features of individual commentators, periods, and localities. We intend to highlight the rich tradition of commentary methods and offer new perspectives on the purpose and social function of commentary practice.

For the programme and registration (limited), please go to https://www.manuscript-cultures.uni-hamburg.de/register_hadith2017.html.

For further information, please contact the organisers at ali.zaherinezhad@uni-hamburg.de.

 

 

 

3. International Workshop: ‘From Oriens Christianus to the Islamic Near East: Theological, Historical and Cultural Cross-pollination in the Eastern Mediterranean of Late Antiquity’. The workshop seeks to shed new light on the crossroads at which the Late Antique world of the Eastern Mediterranean heralded diverse exchanges between Oriental Christendom, Byzantine culture and the Islamic world. Furthermore, how these exchanges impacted the development of diverse regions, cultures, languages, and religions.

The workshop will provide an inter-disciplinary overview of the various perspectives emerging from the Christian Oriental, Byzantine, Early Islamic and Archaeological approaches to this area of research. The key objective of the workshop is to explore the possibilities of a unified and holistic approach to understanding the “Sattelzeit” (R. Koselleck) – i.e. the period between 500 and 750 CE. While the scope of the workshop has been intentionally left broad, the papers will primarily focus on the following areas:

• The role of Eastern/Oriental Christians in the relationship(s) formed between the Islamic Caliphate and the Byzantine Empire.
• Scripture and Arts as a medium of interchange between Christians and Muslims.
• The historical narratives and administrative reality of the expansion of the Islamic Empire.

The workshop will take place on 7th – 8th December, 2017 at Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin) and is the collaborative effort of the Chair of Byzantine Studies (FU Berlin), Radboud University, and Gorgias Press.

We hope that the workshop will encourage fruitful discussions about the state-of-the-art of the field and highlight potential areas for future inquiry. We further expect the workshop to provide a platform for both established researchers in the field and early-career academics (including advanced Ph.D. students). The workshop proceedings will be published in an edited volume by Gorgias Press.

For further information about the workshop, please contact Manolis Ulbricht: manolis.ulbricht@fu-berlin.de.

Conveners

Manolis Ulbricht, Berlin Byzantine Studies (Freie Universität Berlin)
Adam Walker, Radboud University / Gorgias Press

 

Date: 7th – 8th December, 2017

Venue: Freie Universität Berlin, Topoi Building Dahlem, Hittorfstraße 18, D-14195 Berlin

Admission: Free and open to all interested specialists and Ph.D. students

Webpage: https://www.gorgiaspress.com/from-oriens-christianus-to-the-islamic-near-east-2

 

 

 

4. The Orient-Institut Istanbulis pleased to invite applications for Ph.D. research grants for 2018 and for the academic year of 2018/19. The purpose of the grant is the support of field research in Istanbul/Turkey for Ph.D. students not living in Turkey. Grants are available to support research in one of the research areas of the Institute including the following research fields:

1. Musicological research on the Ottoman Empire and Turkey
2. Narrative sources on Istanbul and the late Ottoman Empire
3. Historic and contemporary forms of religious expression in Anatolia since the 11^th century
4. Manuscript cultures in the Ottoman Empire and Iran, in cooperation with the Collaborative Research Center 950 of the University of Hamburg
5. Human, medicine, and society, in cooperation with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (ITAS)

The award consists of a monthly stipend of € 1,100 for the duration of usually six months. Travel expenses to and from Turkey will be reimbursed.

Prospective applicants are expected to hold an M.A. degree in a related academic discipline. A complete application must specify the necessity of conducting research in Istanbul or elsewhere in Turkey and include a detailed time frame for the envisioned research.

A good command of Turkish or other source languages necessary for the proposed project is expected. As the Orient-Institut Istanbul aims at creating an open and supportive academic environment, stipend holders are expected to attend colloquia and conferences organized by the Institute and to give a public presentation of their research. Research stays outside of Istanbul must be coordinated with the director.

Applications must be submitted by January 8, 2018 in electronic format (PDF) to the following address:

Prof. Dr. Raoul Motika

Director of the Orient-Institut Istanbul

Susam Sokak 16-18, D. 8

34433 Cihangir – Istanbul

Turkey

oiist@oiist.org

 

 

 

5. The draft programme for a conference on Islamic Law and Sexuality, 9-11 January, 2018, hosted by the University of Exeter, is now online: http://www.usppip.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Islamic-Law-and-Sexuality-Draft-Programme.pdf

 

 

 

6. The Art, Art History and Film Department at Boston College seeks to hire someone to teach two courses (one each semester) in Islamic art and architecture during the 2018-19 academic year. One class should be an introduction to Islamic art and/or architecture; the other should be a more specialized undergraduate lecture course that fits into the existing offerings. Topics might include urbanism, the art of the object, the Islamic book, the arts of Islamic Spain, etc.  Courses meet twice weekly for 1 hour 15 minutes and normally have 20-25 undergraduate students from across the university.  Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, along with a CV and the names of three references to the department chair, Prof. Claude Cernuschi, claude.cernuschi@bc.edu.

 

Government launches bizarre attempt to link opposition with Qatar

New charges levied against Sheikh Ali Salman Bahraini authorities have sought new charges against Sheikh Ali Salman, Secretary General of Al Wefaq, accusing him of working as a spy for the state of Qatar. He is now due to stand trial on 26th November, with two other individuals indicted, Hassan Sultan and Ali Alaswad, a former MP now residing in London.

Constructing a Worldview

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