Archive for 2020

1.Workshop: “Ibadi Manuscripts in European and North American Libraries,” Lviv, Ukraine, 24-25 April 2020

This workshop aims to investigate critically the histories and politics of these collections, with special attention to their acquisition and subsequent use by scholars from both outside and inside Ibadi communities.

Information: https://ibadistudies.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/lviv_ibadi_mss_cfp_2020.pdf

 

 

 

 

2. 35^th Annual Middle East History and Theory Conference: “Theorizing Gender and Sexuality in the Historic and Contemporary Middle East“, University of Chicago, 1-3 May 2020

The conference will study the Middle East from the sixth century c.e. to the present day. Topics include history, political science, anthropology, religious studies, geography, literary studies, philosophy, art history, and media studies.

Information: https://mehat2020.wixsite.com/mehat

 

 

 

 

3. 7^th Conference of the School of Mamluk Studies, Centre for Visual Arts and Research, Nicosia, 2-4 July 2020

The conference will be preceded by a three-day (29 June – 1 July 2020) intensive course on Venetian sources concerning trade in Mamluk territories and Cyprusy. The first day of the conference will focus on Mamluk-Cypriot relations in a wider Euro-Mediterranean perspective under the title “Commerce and Crusade: The Mamluk Empire and Cyprus in a Euro-Mediterranean Perspective.” The following two days of the conference will be structured in panels, which may focus on any aspect of the intellectual, political, social, economic, and artistic life of the Mamluk period.

Information: http://mamluk.uchicago.edu/sms-conference.html

 

 

 

 

4. 16^th Colloquium of the Ernst Herzfeld Society: “The Arts and Archaeology of Funerary Cultures in Islam”, Sapienza University, Rome, 2-4 July 2020

The colloquium discusses Islamic funerary cultures through art history and archaeology as well as related disciplines and subfields.

Information: https://f.hypotheses.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/1460/files/2020/01/2020_07_02-04-Funerary-Cultures-in-Islam_CFP.pdf

 

 

 

 

5. Conference: “Ideas in Motion: Arabia in Late Antiquity,“ Leiden University and King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, Leiden, 26-27 August 2020

The conference will address key themes in religious, intellectual, and cultural history in Arabia in the period between 570-1000 AD. Central topics include: transmission of ideas and texts; religious and philosophical doctrines and beliefs in Arabia; devotional piety and theology; etc.

Information: https://diwan.hypotheses.org/17079 and the English version of the Call for Papers: https://f.hypotheses.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/678/files/2019/12/call-.pdf

 

 

 

 

6. International Conference of the Academic Research Institute in Iraq (TARII): “From Ancient to Modern: The Current State of Research on Iraq“, Washington, DC, 9 October 2020

This conference will bring together American, Iraqi, and international scholars to present their findings and exchange their ideas in any subject area.

Information: https://www.tarii.org/conferences

 

 

 

 

7. Conference: “Rethinking Narratives of China and the Middle East: The Silk Roads and Beyond”, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 8-10 April 2021

The conference examines the relationship between China and the Middle East, ​both ​ ancient and modern. Papers that incorporate additional regions, such as Europe, Central Asia, or South/Southeast Asia are also encouraged, provided they are also incorporate both China and a country in the Middle East, broadly construed.

Information: mec-conference@sas.upenn.edu

 

 

 

 

8. Postdoctoral Research and Outreach Associate in Islamic Art, Aesthetics and/or Material Culture, Centre of Islamic Studies, University of Cambridge

The associate will be involved in researching Arabic and Persian manuscripts. Expert knowledge of the two languages and Islamic codicology are two essential requisites.

Deadline for applications: 19 April 2020.

Information: http://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/24783/?fbclid=IwAR1CrdaAHpweM6UtBhgHkQmwgymH-DFnBIfRRsxTFbvqLdwda5lkU_g22lM

 

 

 

 

9. Visiting Assistant Professor in African or Middle Eastern History, Loyola Marymount University

The successful candidate will be expected to teach courses on “State, Society, and the Citizen in the Modern Middle East”.

Deadline for applications: 20 March 2020. Information: https://jobs.lmu.edu/postings/44126

 

 

 

 

10. Fellowship Program to Support Emerging Displaced Scholars (Humanities and Humanistic Social Sciences), Columbia University, Global Center, Amman

Eligible candidates have been forcibly uprooted from their home countries and respective academic institutions. They could be graduate students who have had their education disrupted or post-doctoral scholars in the early stages of their careers. Creative writers, artists, and curators may also apply.

Deadline for applications: 1 May 2020. Information: https://globalcenters.columbia.edu/content/fellowship-program-emerging-displaced-scholars?fbclid=IwAR0wAWVxs8iSSlh-r8asDdHjibNRGCMxUZGVW0T-1TLhOZ1FcwhiTK_fV40

 

 

 

 

11. Articles on “The Politics of Religious Dissent” for Special Issue of New “International Journal of Religion”

Three questions frame the topic in the special issue: – How do religious leaders respond to dissent within their faiths? – How does the state respond to religious dissent? – How do religions react to dissent from feminist and gay activists?

Deadline for manuscripts: 31 July 2020. Information: tsjhayn1@londonmet.ac.uk

 

 

 

 

12. New “Journal of Material Cultures in the Muslim World”

The Journal aims to be a new reference for field archaeologists, (art) historians, anthropologists, curators, and scholars and students of the archeology, (art) history, architecture, anthropology and ethnography of the Muslim world. Material culture includes not only artefacts, architectural structures and monuments, but also crafts and archaeological field surveys.

Information: https://brill.com/page/mcmw

 

 

 

 

13. Chapters for Edited Book on “Diasporic Political Communication: Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives” (Focus Middle East)

We invite theoretical chapters Mediatisation, Diaspora, Multimodality, Contentious Action Formation, and how each of these concepts relates to political communication among diasporas; and empirically-based chapters that examine Middle East diasporas, and how they use traditional and digital media to politically mobilise and transnationally connect.

Abstract deadline: 15 April 2020.

Information: https://ccrs.ku.dk/research/centres-and-projects/mediatizeddiaspora/

 

 

 

 

 

14. Chapters for the New “Handbook of Non-Violent Extremism: Groups, Perspectives and New Debates” (Routledge)

The Handbook will provide an up-to-date picture of the most active non-violent extremist groups in Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the US and the Middle East and discuss the ideological foundation of their ‘war of ideas’, their claims and perspectives. Chapter proposals are invited about Islamist extremism, feminist extremism etc.

Deadline for abstracts: 30 March 2020.

Information: Dr Elisa Orofino (elisa.orofino@anglia.ac.uk)

 

 

 

15. POSTPONED: BRAIS

The British Association for Islamic Studies and the Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations have today taken the decision to postpone the BRAIS 2020 Conference, due to take place at the Aga Khan Centre on 6 and 7 April, in response to the escalation of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.

 

Many of our delegates are facing increasingly stringent travel restrictions and the situation is developing very quickly. As disappointed as we are to be postponing this much-anticipated conference, continuing would not be in the best interests of our delegates and we feel the decision to postpone is therefore unavoidable. If you had registered as a delegate, you will have received a separate email regarding the refund of delegate fees.

 

We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the conference thus far, and it goes without saying that we are incredibly disappointed that such a wonderful programme of papers, panels and keynotes has had to be postponed. BRAIS and the Aga Khan University will discuss rescheduling the conference in due course, and we will be in touch with updates as soon as we know more. In the meantime, if you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Thank you for your understanding and very best wishes from us all,

 

The BRAIS Officers’ Committee and the Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations

(10.3.20 email)

The Bektashi Shi’as of Michigan: Pluralism and Orthodoxy within Twelver Shi’ism

Project Associate Mohammad Sagha writes on the Bektashi Shi’a community based in Michigan, USA for the Visions Blog. He explores debates on orthodoxy and heterodoxy within Islam and the need to examine the diversity and pluralism within modern Shi’ism which is often overlooked in larger debates of Islam and the Muslim world.

Bahrain: Death Sentences Despite Torture Claims

(Beirut) – Bahrain’s authorities should overturn the death sentences following unfair trials against two men who say they were tortured, Human Rights Watch and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said today. The Court of Cassation, Bahrain’s court of last resort, will issue the final verdict in the coming weeks.

See also ADHRB Weekly 338 here.

Zahid Ali Fellowship

The Zahid Ali Fellowship was established in 1997 by The Institute of Ismaili Studies in the name of Professor Zahid Ali (1888-1958), a pioneer of modern Ismaili Studies, at the bequest of Professor Zahid Ali’s son, the late Professor Abid Ali, and his family.

1.BIPS (The British Institute of Persian Studies) is currently accepting applications for the April 2020 round of research and travel grants. 

Prospective grant applicants will be able to find details on the application process at the BIPS’ website at: https://www.bips.ac.uk/bips-april-2020-21-grants/.

The deadline for applications is Tuesday 31 March at 6pm.

NB: Applicants must be affiliated to a British higher educational institutionto be considered for a BIPS grant.

 

 

 

2. Middle East Librarian at Georgetown University

https://georgetown.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Georgetown_Admin_Careers/job/Main-Campus/Middle-Eastern-Studies-Liaison—Reference-Librarian_JR08630

Afghan CEO Abdullah escapes Kabul shooting attack (Ld)

Afghan CEO Abdullah escapes Kabul shooting attack (Ld) Kabul, March 6 (IANS) Afghanistan”s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on Friday escaped a shooting that took place shortly after he spoke at a public event here, a government official said, adding 18 people were injured in the attack.

See also BBC News.

UAE stealing Yemen’s Socotra manuscripts and artefacts, reports

Local sources on the Yemeni island of Socotra have expressed concerns over reports that the UAE delegate Khalfan Al-Mazrouei had facilitated the theft of antiquities and ancient manuscripts. The sources told Socotra Post that an Emirati antiquities team accompanied by Al-Mazrouei visited the oldest mosque in Hadibu, the capital of Socotra known for its historic dome, in addition to other archaeological sites.

Sunni-Shia Reconciliation in Malaysia

The 1996 fatwa [recognizing “Sunni Islam” as the official religion of Malaysia] was a pivotal turning point that paved the way for subsequent efforts at “othering” the Shia minority, and through this to discredit and deny them their human rights.

Bahrain: Release of Hajer Mansoor long overdue others must now follow

Responding to today’s release of Hajer Mansoor, a prisoner of conscience who served a three-year prison sentence after a grossly unfair trial in Bahrain, Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International’s Middle East Research Director, said: Hajer Mansoor’s release is long overdue, but she should never have spent a single day in detention in the first place Lynn Maalouf “Hajer was imprisoned for three years on absurd ‘terrorism’ charges, solely because of her family relationship with Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, a human rights activist who now lives in the United Kingdom.

See also BIRD Weekly 263 here.

1. The Latin Qur’an Workshop

9-11 March, 2020

Sala de Graus

Facultat de FilosoÞa i Lletres

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB

Programme at: https://euqu.eu/wp-content/uploads/sites/829/2020/01/EuQu-Latin-Quran-Workshop-Brochure-Barcelona-March-2020.pdf

 

 

 

2. International Conference: “Eastern European-Ottoman-Persian Mobility Dynamics”, University of Giessen, 21–23 May 2020

See program at https://www.transottomanica.de/activities/conferences/21-23-may-giessen

 

 

 

 

3. Monographs and Edited Books on the MENA Region for the Peter Lang’s Series “Global Politics”

We invite scholarly monographs authored by academics on topical questions in international relations and the modern and contemporary history of the Middle East and North Africa. The aim is to promote deeper knowledge of emerging issues and trends. Publications include original monographs and edited volumes which combine a grasp of the past, an understanding of present dynamics, and a vision about potential futures.

Information: lorenzo.kamel@unito.it; https://www.peterlang.com/abstract/serial/GPS

 

 

 

 

4. The Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies (SIMS) at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries is accepting applications for its 2020-2021 Visiting Research Fellowship program. Guided by the vision of its founders, Lawrence J. Schoenberg and Barbara Brizdle Schoenberg, SIMS aims to bring manuscript culture, modern technology, and people together to provide access to and understanding of our shared intellectual heritage. Part of the Penn Libraries, SIMS oversees an extensive collection of premodern manuscripts from around the world (https://dla.library.upenn.edu/dla/medren), with a special focus on the history of philosophy and science, and creates open-access digital content to support the study of its collections. SIMS also hosts the Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts (https://sdbm.library.upenn.edu/) and the annual Schoenberg Symposium on Manuscript Studies in the Digital Age (http://www.library.upenn.edu/about/exhibits-events/ljs-symposium).

 

The SIMS Visiting Research Fellowships have been established to encourage research relating to the premodern manuscript collections at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries, including the Schoenberg Collection. Affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania, located near other manuscript-rich research collections (the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the Free Library of Philadelphia, the Science History Institute, and the Rosenbach Museum and Library, among many others), and linked to the local and international scholarly communities, SIMS offers fellows a network of resources and opportunities for collaboration. Fellows will be encouraged to interact with SIMS staff, Penn faculty, and other medieval and early modern scholars in the Philadelphia area. Fellows will also be expected to present their research at Penn Libraries either during the term of the fellowship or on a selected date following the completion of the term.

 

Applicants can apply to spend 1 month (minimum of 4 work weeks) at SIMS between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. Applications are due May 15, 2020. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://schoenberginstitute.org/visiting-research-fellowships-2/