Archive for August, 2018

The Law, Authority and Learning in Imami Shiite Islam (lawalisi) project is offering two postdoctoral fellowship positions, focussing on the late classical period (from 15th to late 19th/early 20th Century) in Shii legal thought and practice. The job descriptions and further details are here:
https://jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?VACANCY_ID=621831Mb0r&WVID=3817591jNg&LANG=USA

Bahrain: 127 Rights Groups Call for Immediate Release of Nabeel Rajab

(Paris) -For the second time since 2013, the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) has issued an Opinion regarding the legality of the detention of Mr. Nabeel Rajab under international human rights law. In its second opinion, the WGAD held that the detention was not only arbitrary but also discriminatory.

Profiles in Persecution: Hassan Mushaima

Hassan Mushaima is a 70-year-old Bahraini citizen currently serving a life sentence in Jau Prison on political charges. He was sentenced for “attempting to overthrow the government” for his role in the pro-democracy protests in 2011. He remains in Jau Prison, where he has been subjected to ill treatment, including the continued denial of healthcare and restricted access to medication by the prison administration.

1.Furman University – Assistant Professor, Middle Eastern History
http://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=57109

2. Scribal Cultures Across Eurasia

Princeton’s Program in Medieval Studies seeks proposals for 20-minute papers that will explore scribal cultures in different parts of the world between the 5th and the 15th century. Scribal cultures across the Eurasian continent are often more connected than is usually recognized. The long shadow of the Achaemenids can be traced in Demotic papyri and Bactrian inscriptions; Khotanese legal documents from Dunhuang used Indian and Chinese bits of formulary; Latin scribes and scholars of the late Antique and medieval West built upon forms and formularies that once belonged to the much wider world of the later Roman empire. Throughout the Middle Ages, connections to these wider horizons persisted, linking different scribal cultures, framing new conversations between them, and inspiring new scripts, vocabularies, and literatures. We welcome proposals from a broad range of disciplines and approaches that will address the documents themselves, discourses on documentary, scribal or legal cultures, and/or representations/ruminations of/on all of the above in literature, art, architecture, music, history of science, etc. This session will be an extension of the 2018-2019 programming at Princeton on this topic, which is part of an ongoing Princeton initiative seeking to connect not only divergent parts of medieval worlds but also this initiative with similar interests and projects at other research institutions and by other scholars.

The Princeton medieval studies community is deeply committed to inclusivity.  Graduate students, contingent faculty, early-career medievalists, women, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply. Interested persons should send a short cv and a one-page abstract of their paper by September 15, 2018 to:

Prof. Sara S. Poor

spoor@princeton.edu

Princeton University

Department of German

203 East Pyne

Princeton, NJ 08544

3. Yale University’s Program in History of Science and Medicine seeks to appoint a tenure-track assistant professor with expertise in transnational or cross-cultural history of science, technology, health, or the body, to begin July 1, 2019. As a member of the Program in the History of Science and Medicine, the successful candidate will be appointed fully in the Department of History.

The search is open to scholars studying any era and any region, with a preference for scholarship that ranges beyond Europe and the United States. Yale University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Yale values diversity among its students, staff, and faculty and strongly welcomes applications from women, underrepresented minorities, protected veterans, and persons with disabilities. Applicants should submit a letter of application, C.V., statement of research interests, a teaching statement or sample syllabus, a chapter length writing sample prepared for anonymous reading, and three letters of reference at http://apply.interfolio.com/52990 Review of applications will begin September 15, 2018 and continue until a suitable candidate is found. Questions can be addressed to Erica Lee, erica.lee@yale.edu.

4. Lives of the Prophets: The Illustrations to Hafiz-i Abru’s “Assembly of Chronicles”

By: Mohamad Reza Ghiasian

Publisher: BRILL

Series: Studies in Persian Cultural History, Volume: 16

Extent: xvi + 344 pp.

ISBN: 978-90-04-37722-6

Hardback:  EUR €132.00    |    USD $159.00

E-Book:  EUR €120.00    |   USD $144.00

In Lives of the Prophets: The Illustrations to Hafiz-i Abru’s “Assembly of Chronicles” Mohamad Reza Ghiasian analyses two extant copies of the Majmaʿ al-tawarikh produced for the Timurid ruler Shahrukh (r. 1405–1447). The first manuscript is kept in Topkapı Palace and the second is widely dispersed. Codicological analysis of these manuscripts not only allows a better understanding of Hafiz-i Abru’s contributions to rewriting earlier history, but has served to identify the existence of a previously unrecognised copy of the Jamiʿ al-tawarikh produced at Rashid al-Din’s scriptorium. Through a meticulous close reading of both text and image, Mohamad Reza Ghiasian convincingly proves that numerous paintings of the dispersed manuscript were painted over the text before its dispersal in the early twentieth century.

For more information and the table of contents, please see https://brill.com/view/title/38932

5. The Department of Politics at Princeton University seeks to hire an Outreach Associate (Senior Research Specialist) in support of a project titled, “Understanding Marginalized Communities in the Arab World Through Social Science Research: Gaining Insight, Enhancing Capacity, Building Collaborations, Contributing to Solutions.”

Required: A Master’s degree (Ph.D. preferred) in political science, sociology, economics, or another social science, and 2-3 years of related experience. Excellent knowledge of, and applied experience with, quantitative research methods. Knowledge of a statistical language such as SPSS, Stata or R. Strong experience documenting, analyzing and disseminating data. A history of being organized, resourceful, and attentive to detail. Supervisory and financial management experience. Demonstrated ability to work on multiple projects at once, take initiative, prioritize work, and meet deadlines. Superior written and oral communication skills in Arabic and English. Excellent interpersonal skills. Comfortable working both individually and as part of a team.
Preferred: Prior experience with comparative research or international collaborations. A knowledge of French is desirable.

See: https://careers.insidehighered.com/job/1583764/senior-research-specialist-i/

6. 11th Al-Jami’ah Forum & Conference: “Southeast Asian and Global Perspectives”, Jambi, 13-15 No-vember 2018

The forum will be dedicated to the wide and general issues of Islamic studies in Southeast Asia and there-fore accept articles from various fields in Islamic studies. Promising papers after the process of peers re-views will be published in Al-Jami’ah: Journal of Islamic Studies (Scopus Q3) or JSEAIS: Journal of South-east Asian Islam & Society.

Deadline for abstracts: 18 September 2018. Information: https://networks.h-net.org/node/73374/announce-ments/2221659/11th-al-jamiah-forum-conference-islamic-studies-update

7. Workshop: “Religion, Economy, and Value: Histories of Religious Fundraising”, University of Copenhagen, 17-18 December 2018

This workshop aims to bring together scholars working across a variety of religious, geographical and cul-tural contexts and historical periods to discuss what religious fundraising practices can tell us more broadly about economic thinking and conceptions of the social god.

Deadline for abstracts: 15 September 2018. Information: https://centerforcontemporarybuddhiststud-ies.wordpress.com/2018/08/20/cfp-workshop-on-religion-economy-and-value-histories-of-religious-fund-raising/

8. Visiting Professor for Kuwait Program of Sciences Po, Paris School of International Affairs

This opportunity is open to both professors and practitioners, specialists of the Middle East and North Africa. Individuals of all nationalities may apply. Applicants must be full-time faculty members of professorial rank. Candidates on sabbatical or on leave will be preferred. Applications from all social sciences and humanities are welcome, with a preference for experts on human development policies, political economy, or urbanism in the Middle East.

Deadline for applications: 2 September 2018. Information: https://www.sciencespo.fr/kuwait-program/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Call_KSP_Visting_Faculty_

9. Research Fellowship for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, Aga Khan University

The Fellow will be expected to: (1) produce a deliverable (e.g., a research paper) on their fellowship topic acknowledging the fellowship scheme at AKU-ISMC; (2) organise a research workshop which will be an opportunity to bring together other academics working on their topic; (3) engage in discussions about their work and that of colleagues at AKU-ISMC; and (4) possibly delivering lectures and seminars in the MA programme in Muslim Cultures. Candidates should have a PhD in the Humanities or Social Sciences

Deadline for applications: 21 September 2018. Information: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BLV449/call-for-re-search-fellowship

10. Assistant Professor in International Studies with Expertise in the Middle East, University of San Francisco

We are seeking applications from candidates with a Ph.D. in International Studies or related field. Prefer-ence will be given to applicants whose work centers on one or more of the following areas: diplomacy, human rights, indigeneity and race/intersectionality in a global perspective.

Deadline for applications: 5 October 2018. Information: https://www.usfjobs.com/postings/14445

11. Humanities Research Fellowships for the Study of the Arab World, New York University Abu Dhabi

While open to scholars working in all areas of the Humanities, the program aims in particular to build a center of outstanding research capacity in areas of the Humanities that are relevant for the study of the Arabic world, its rich intellectual, religious, and scientific history, its cultural and artistic heritage as ex-pressed in traditional and new media, and its interaction with other cultures in the past and present.

Information: https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/research/centers-labs-and-projects/humanities-research-fellowship-program.html

Salvation and Destiny in Islam: The Shiʿi Ismaili Perspective of Ḥamīd al-Dīn al-Kirmānī | The Institute of Ismaili Studies

Maria De Cillis is a Senior Research Associate at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, London, where she is also the Managing Editor of the Shiʿi Heritage Series . Dr De Cillis completed her undergraduate studies in the field of Languages and Literatures (English and Arabic) graduating from the Università degli Studi di Napoli – L’Orientale in Naples, Italy in 2001 ( cum laude ).

When will this Opression end? Jannat Al Baqee walls have been Blocked!!

AGAIN, Jannatul Baqee has been violated! The Saudi Regime has blocked off the view to the graves of The Most Holy Personalities. This is a direct insult to all Zawwar of the World. Until now, the regime has been systematically erasing the places of historical importance and grave sites of Personalities that have given us Islam.

1.Conference: “The Early Islamic Empire at Work” for ERC Project “The Early Islamic Empire at Work – The View from the Regions Toward the Center”, University of Hamburg, 11-13 October 2018

The conference discusses the reach of law, Islamic and other, for the integration and functioning of the em-pire, as well as its role in the development of Islam as an ‘imperial’ religion. To what extent did ‘Islam’ serve as an integrating force, even if only for the imperial elite?

Deadline for abstracts: 31 August 2018. Information: https://www.islamic-empire.uni-hamburg.de/en/news-and-events/conferences/reach-of-empire.html

2. International Conference and Collective Volume: “(Im)Mobility and the (Re)Combination of Knowledge in the Mamluk Period – Towards a Conceptual Intellectual History”, University of Bonn, 6-8 October 2019

The aim of the conference and the edited volume is to bring together a number of case studies which illustrate how the social context of a given author influences knowledge production. Papers are welcome that address the social context of authors and their intellectual outcome in general, and how their (im)mobility lead either to the specialization or hybridization of knowledge.

Deadline for proposals: 15 September 2018. More information: https://www.mamluk.uni-bonn.de/mamluk-events/cfp-immobility-and-the-re-combination-of-knowledge-in-the-mamluk-period.pdf

3. Study Program: “One Land, Two Peoples and Three Religions”, Galilee Institute, Israel, 27 Decem-ber 2018 – 8 January 2019

The programme focusses on the Jewish/Christian/Islamic religions, their roots in the region and their rela-tionship around the conflict. It is designed for all students, faculty members and professionals who wish to take a deeper look at the diverse groups living in Israel/Palestine.

Deadline for applications: 27 October 2018. Information: https://www.gal-ilcol.ac.il/Courses/235/One_Land,_Two_Peoples_and_Three_Religions

4. 15 Scholarships for MA in Modern Turkish Studies, Istanbul Sehir University

The Center for Modern Turkish Studies invites you to study issues of Turkey and its surronding with unique interdisciplinary and flexible curriculum for our M.A Program.

Deadline for application: 31 August 2018. Further info http://cemts.sehir.edu.tr

5. Call for Papers

International Medieval Congress, Leeds, UK, 1^st-4^th July 2019

Caucasian Connections: Beyond Liminality

The relationship between the Caucasus and the outside world has been deeply implicated in its cultural development and structures of authority from the Maikop Culture onwards. Just as outside empires sought to control the Caucasus, its peoples and strategic routes and resources, so indigenous Caucasian elites sought the favour of outsiders in their struggles for power. At the same time, the Caucasus maintained a distinctive set of cultural traditions. This tension between access to the outside world and indigenous ‘Caucasian civilisation’ has been a central theme of scholarship on the region.

In order to promote interdisciplinary dialogue on these issues, we propose to organise one or several panels at the International Medieval Studies- the world’s second-largest gathering of medieval scholars and the largest in Europe. We welcome papers from the disciplines of History, Art History, Archaeology, Medieval Studies, Literature or Historical Linguistics on the cultures of the Caucasus (broadly defined), its relationship with the surrounding areas, or outside attitudes to the region. In particular, we seek papers that can address the material culture aspects of these relationships, given the overall conference theme of ‘materiality’. Possible subjects may include, but are not limited to:

–        material cultures of the Caucasus and its neighbours;

–        economic, social or cultural connections within or beyond the Caucasus;

–        the (un)importance of the outside world in the formation of Caucasian culture, society or identity;

–        outsider perceptions of the Caucasus.

For further information, please see the full conference CFP at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ims/imc/imc2019_call.html. Small travel bursaries may be available from the conference, although these should not be relied upon as a source of support. Further travel support may be available for scholars from outside the UK, with priority given to scholars from the Caucasus and CIS countries.

Expressions of interest should be sent to John Latham Sprinkle at 580698@soas.ac.uk by 10^th September 2018. Please send a paper title and a brief description of your proposed topic. Please also indicate whether you will require travel funding in order to attend, and if so, approximately how much you estimate will be necessary.

6. The Ira Brind and Stacey Spector Assistant/ Associate Curator of South Asian Art

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

For more information and to apply, please visit:

https://philamuseum.applytojob.com/apply/ZOMnEB9IKm/The-Ira-Brind-And-Stacey-Spector-AssistantAssoc

Shia Rights Watch is extremely concerned as Israa al-Ghamgham, a detainee and a female Shia rights activist is sentenced to the death penalty for her involvement in peaceful demonstrations in Qatif.
Read More at SRW site.
See also Human Rights Watch.
See also BBC News.
See also The New York Times.
See also ADHRB.
See also Newsweek.

UN calls for release of jailed Bahraini activist Nabeel Rajab

A special United Nations panel is urging Bahrain to immediately release imprisoned activist Nabeel Rajab, describing him as the victim of government-sponsored “persecution” for his political views in the island kingdom. The statement by the UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention comes as Rajab is serving a five-year prison sentence for tweets he sent, a case widely criticized internationally as the kingdom’s government continues a crackdown on dissent.

See also ADHRB.

Afghanistan: Suicide bomber targets school in Kabul

At least 48 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack in front of an education centre in the west of the Afghan capital, Kabul, according to the health ministry. Wednesday’s attack in the Shia neighbourhood of Dasht-e-Barchi left dozens more injured, Waheed Majrooh, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s ministry of public health, told Al Jazeera.

See also BBC News